>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
? >> THEY SHARE A LOVE OF MUSIC.
FOUR EXCEPTIONAL YOUNG PERFORMERS, EXPRESSING THEIR
ARTISTRY, COMMITMENT, AND PASSION.
EAGER TO TAKE THE STAGE AND REALIZE THEIR DREAMS.
UNDER THE BATONPHONY ORCHESTRA
OF MUSIC DIRECTOR JOHN DEMAIN WELCOMES THE
FOUR FINALISTS TO OVERTURE HALL. CORDELIA MOMO FREDRICKSON,
ZACHARY LEMKE, LORENZ FRADKIN-ANNEN,
AND ANDRÉ PECK.
IT'S WISCONSIN YOUNG ARTISTS COMPETE: THE FINAL FORTE.
CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF WISCONSIN'S EXTRAORDINARY
YOUNG MUSICIANS. >> MAJOR FUNDING FOR THE
FINAL FORTE IS PROVIDED BY: W. JEROME FRAUTSCHI,
DIANE BALLWEG, THE STANLEY AND
SHIRLEY INHORN FUND, BARBARA AND NORM BERVEN,
ELIZABETH OLSON, DR. ANNETTE BEYER-MEARS,
JAMES DAHLBERG AND ELSEBET LUND, WITH ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM
JULIE AND LARRY MIDTBO,
KATO PERLMAN, CYRENA AND LEE PONDROM,
SENTRY INSURANCE FOUNDATION, TRUSTPOINT,
DARCY KIND AND MARC VITALE, WILLIAM C. HOULIHAN
AND MARY S. GERBIG, NICK AND JUDITH TOPITZES,
JIM AND JESSICA YEHLE, THE CHILDREN OF MARIAN
AND JACK BOLZ AND ANNE AND BOB BOLZ
IN MEMORY OF THEIR PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS,
EUGENIE AND ADOLPH BOLZ. DONORS TO THE FOCUS FUND
FOR THE ARTS, AND FRIENDS OF PBS WISCONSIN.
?
[APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU.
GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THE
FINAL FORTE, THE CULMINATION OF THE 2026 BOLZ YOUNG ARTIST
I'M LORI SKELTON, HOST OF COMPETITION.
AFTERNOON CLASSICS. WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO'S
OF INDIVIDUAL GIVING >> AND I'M CLINT WALZ, DIRECTOR
AT PBS WISCONSIN. 2026 MARKS THE 20TH YEAR OF THIS
HISTORIC COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE MADISON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA,
WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO, AND PBS WISCONSIN,
A PARTNERSHIP FORMED TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE
THE TALENTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF WISCONSIN'S BRIGHTEST
YOUNG PERFORMERS. >> TONIGHT, LIVE FROM OVERTURE
HALL IN MADISON, FOUR TALENTED AND EXTREMELY DEDICATED
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WILL COMPETE FOR TOP HONORS.
COMPETITION WILL RECEIVE THE
FOR DISTINGUISHED MUSICAL MARION BOLZ PRIZE
A $3,000 SCHOLARSHIP. ACHIEVEMENT, WHICH INCLUDES
STEENBOCK YOUTH MUSIC AWARD, >> 2ND PLACE WILL RECEIVE THE
$3,000 SCHOLARSHIP. WHICH ALSO RECEIVES
SCHOLARSHIPS OF TWO HONORABLE MENTIONS
$1,500 WILL BE AWARDED AS WELL. >> TONIGHT'S FINALISTS EMERGED
FROM A FIELD OF 39 STUDENTS FROM AROUND THE STATE
WHO COMPETED FOR THE BOLZ COMPETITION IN JANUARY.
LA CROSSE,IANIST ANDRÉ PECK OF
OF OREGON, VIOLINIST VIOLINIST LORENZ FRADKIN-ANNEN
OF MADISON, AND MARIMBIST CORDELIA MOMO FREDRICKSON
ZACHARY LEMKE OF OREGON. >> EACH WILL PERFORM
HERE TONIGHT ACCOMPANIED BY THE MAGNIFICENT MADISON
SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, UNDER THE BATON OF MUSIC DIRECTOR JOHN
DEMAIN, NOW CELEBRATING HIS 32ND SEASON WITH THE ORCHESTRA.
THAT DESERVES A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
YEAH. >> ABSOLUTELY.
[APPLAUSE] >> SO, LET'S BEGIN TONIGHT'S
COMPETITION WITH THE FIRST OF OUR FOUR FINALISTS, VIOLINIST
CORDELIA MOMO FREDRICKSON. >> MY NAME IS
CORDELIA FREDRICKSON. >> I'M 17 AND A SENIOR AT THE
WISCONSIN VIRTUAL ACADEMY. I'VE BEEN PLAYING VIOLIN FOR 14
YEARS. I STARTED WHEN I WAS THREE AND A
HALF YEARS OLD. I REALLY ENJOY THE COLLABORATIVE
ASPECT THAT MUSIC HAS AND ALSO IT'S SUCH A NICE FEELING TO BE
ABLE TO PLAY SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL THAT THE AUDIENCE WILL ALSO
ENJOY. >> A LITTLE BIT MORE VOLUME NOW.
>> MY VIOLIN TEACHER IS PROFESSOR JANET SUNG AT
DE PAUL UNIVERSITY. >> OKAY.
GOOD, I LOVE THIS. >> I'VE BEEN STUDYING WITH HER
FOR ABOUT SIX YEARS. >> BECAUSE OF THAT YOU'RE ABLE
TO ACTUALLY KEEP BUILDING YOUR ENERGY THROUGH, RIGHT?
>> I MET HER AT A MASTER CLASS THAT MY YOUTH ORCHESTRA
WAS HOSTING. >> THAT CREATES THIS KIND OF
CHANGE OF ENERGY IN THE SOUND. OKAY, TRY IT.
>> I THINK SHE IS AN AMAZING TEACHER.
SHE IS A PERSON I ADMIRE A LOT. ?
>> I WILL BE PERFORMING THE PROKOFIEV VIOLIN CONCERTO NO. 1,
THE FIRST MOVEMENT. PROFESSOR SUNG INTRODUCED ME
TO THE IDEA OF PLAYING THE PROKOFIEV.
BUT WHEN I FIRST LISTENED TO IT, I KIND OF FELT CONNECTED
TO IT IMMEDIATELY. THE BEGINNING IS A VERY DREAMY
CHARACTER, ALMOST LIKE IT'S UP IN THE CLOUDS.
AND THEN WHEN YOU KEEP MOVING FORWARD, IT BECOMES A BIT MORE
LIKE AN EVIL LITTLE ELF. I ENJOY TYING ALL OF THAT
TOGETHER TO MAKE A STORY. I ALSO THINK IT
JUST SOUNDS SO COOL. I ENJOY BAKING AND SPENDING TIME
WITH MY FAMILY. SOMETIMES I WILL BAKE BY MYSELF,
BUT I PREFER DOING IT WITH OTHER PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY MY LITTLE
SISTER CHARLOTTE. IT MAKES IT A LOT MORE FUN.
I STARTED VOLUNTEERING AT THE MADISON CHILDREN'S MUSEUM.
I REALLY ENJOY SEEING THE DIFFERENT CREATIVE THINGS
THAT THE LITTLE KIDS ARE MAKING, AND I WANTED TO GIVE BACK
TO THE PLACE THAT WAS MY FAVORITE PLACE TO PLAY AT
WHEN I WAS YOUNGER. I THINK BRINGING OUT THE
MUSICALITY AND REALLY MAKING IT SO THAT THE AUDIENCE FEELS WHAT
YOU ARE TRYING TO SHOW EVERYONE IS ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING
BUT MOST ENJOYABLE PARTS OF PLAYING VIOLIN.
AND IT'S SUCH A GREAT FEELING WHEN YOU CAN PORTRAY WHAT YOU
WANT TO THE AUDIENCE.
?
>> AND NOW, CORDELIA MOMO FREDRICKSON IS TAKING THE STAGE,
ALONG WITH MAESTRO JOHN DEMAIN. >> CORDELIA WILL BE PERFORMING
THE FIRST MOVEMENT OF SERGEI PROKOFIEV'S
VIOLIN CONCERTO NO. 1. PROKOFIEV WAS A RUSSIAN
COMPOSER, PIANIST, AND CONDUCTOR OF THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY.
??
[APPLAUSE]
>> THAT WAS 17-YEAR-OLD CORDELIA FREDRICKSON, PERFORMING THE
FIRST MOVEMENT OF SERGEI
PROKOFIEV'S VIOLIN CONCERTO NO. 1.
CORDELIA IS THE FIRST OF FOUR COMPETITORS IN THIS FINAL ROUND
OF THE 2026 BOLZ YOUNG ARTIST COMPETITION.
BOLZ COMPETITION, AS WELL ASHE
PERFORMANCES, VISIT OTHER MADISON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
MADISONSYMPHONY.ORG. THE ORCHESTRA'S WEBSITE AT
OUR NEXT COMPETITOR TONIGHT IS MARIMBIST ZACHARY LEMKE.
>> MY NAME IS ZACH.
I'M A JUNIOR AT OREGON HIGH SCHOOL.
I'VE BEEN PLAYING PERCUSSION SINCE FIFTH GRADE, SO SEVEN
YEARS NOW. I ENJOY HAND DRUMMING A LOT.
I LIKE THE FEELING ON MY HANDS AFTER I'M DONE.
IT'S WHAT I DO TO, LIKE, WARM UP FOR MARIMBA.
GETS MY HANDS, LIKE, ACTIVATED. I ALWAYS WANT TO PLAY SOMETHING
HARDER, DO SOMETHING THAT WILL TAKE MY MUSICALITY UP A LEVEL.
I JOINED THE WYSO PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE IN SEVENTH GRADE, AND
IT WAS PROBABLY THE BEST DECISION I MADE FOR MYSELF
MUSICALLY. IT WAS JUST SO, LIKE,
EYE-OPENING FOR ME. I'M LIKE, WHOA, YOU CAN DO A LOT
OF REALLY COOL STUFF WITH PERCUSSION.
I ALSO PLAY IN THE WYSO'S YOUTH ORCHESTRA.
EVERY TWO YEARS, THEY DO AN INTERNATIONAL TOUR.
THE ONE LAST YEAR WAS SPAIN AND PORTUGAL, SO I WAS FORTUNATE
ENOUGH TO GET TO GO ON THAT. IT WAS PROBABLY THE MOST
ENJOYABLE EXPERIENCE I'VE EVER HAD.
WE GOT TO PLAY AT THESE AMAZING VENUES.
SOME WERE OUTDOORS IN FRONT OF THIS, LIKE, MASSIVE CATHEDRAL.
IT WAS -- IT WAS AWESOME. AND THE FOOD THERE WAS SO GOOD.
IT WAS A LOT OF FUN. I REALLY ENJOY HANGING OUT WITH
MY FRIENDS. THINGS LIKE PLAYING ROCK BAND OR
STUFF LIKE THAT. GUITAR HERO.
>> THERE YOU GO! >> I WILL BE PLAYING KEIKO ABE'S
“PRISM RHAPSODY.” I FIRST ENCOUNTERED THIS PIECE
WHEN MY FRIEND ELLIOT PLAYED IT IN THE "FINAL FORTE" IN 2024.
AND I'M LIKE, “OH, I WANT TO DO THAT SOMEDAY.”
I CAME TO MY PRIVATE TEACHER, CINDY, AND I'M LIKE, “CAN I DO
THIS?” AND SHE WENT FOR IT.
I DIDN'T THINK SHE WAS GOING TO GO FOR IT, TO BE HONEST.
I THOUGHT SHE WAS GOING TO BE LIKE, “ABSOLUTELY NOT.
THAT'S WAY TOO HARD FOR YOU.” BUT SHE DID.
THERE'S SECTIONS WHERE YOU'RE PLAYING UNGODLY FAST, SECTIONS
WHERE YOU'RE JUST LIKE, SUPER SLOW, METHODICAL AND EVERYTHING
IN BETWEEN. THERE'S TWO MALLETS, SIX
MALLETS, FOUR MALLETS. IT'S INGENIOUS, REALLY.
CINDY HAS AMAZING TEACHING TECHNIQUES.
>> YOUR PHRASING TODAY DEPENDS ON WHO YOU ARE TODAY.
>> WHEN I WAS STARTING TO BE ABLE TO PLAY IT UP TO TEMPO, AND
SHE SAYS, “GREAT, NOW THAT YOU CAN DO THAT, I WANT YOU TO GO TO
HALF TEMPO AND NOT PLAY PAST THAT FOR TWO WEEKS.”
AND IT WAS SO EXCRUCIATING JUST TO DO THAT EVERY DAY.
BUT IT REALLY HELPED IN MY PREPARATION OF THE PIECE.
PERCUSSION RARELY GET SOLOS. RARELY GET OPPORTUNITIES WHERE
THEY'RE, LIKE, THE MAIN FEATURE. I THINK IT WILL FINALLY BE NICE
WHERE I DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO PLAY QUIETER AND I GET TO
BLEND WITH THE ORCHESTRA, MAKE SOME COOL MUSIC.
>> ZACHARY LEMKE IS COMING ON STAGE NOW TO PERFORM KEIKO ABE'S
"PRISM RHAPSODY FOR MARIMBA AND
ORCHESTRA." >> KEIKO ABE IS A JAPANESE
COMPOSER, TEACHER, AND MARIMBA PLAYER, AND ONE OF THE PRIMARY
FIGURES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MODERN FIVE-OCTAVE CONCERT
MARIMBA.
??
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> THAT WAS 16-YEAR-OLD ZACHARY LEMKE PERFORMING KEIKO ABE'S
"PRISM RHAPSODY FOR MARIMBA AND ORCHESTRA."
IN ADDITION TO THE BOLZ YOUNG ARTIST COMPETITION, THE MADISON
SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA OFFERS A CONTEST FOR YOUNGER MUSICIANS
AS WELL. >> INDEED, THE FALL YOUTH
CONCERTO COMPETITION IS OPEN TO MUSICIANS IN GRADES 3 THROUGH 8.
IN A PROGRAM WITH THE PERFORM
INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND MADISON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.
MADISONSYMPHONY.ORG. ON THE ORCHESTRA'S WEBSITE AT
TO HEAR FROM OUR THIRD >> COMING UP NEXT, WE'RE GOING
LORENZ FRADKIN-ANNEN. COMPETITOR, VIOLINIST
>> MY NAMFRADKIN-ANNEN.
I'M IN 10TH GRADE FRADKIN-ANNEN.
AND I GO TO OREGON HIGH SCHOOL. I'VE BEEN PLAYING VIOLIN FOR
AROUND 11 AND A HALF YEARS. I PLAY VIOLA, BASSOON, AND
PIANO. PIANO IS MORE FUN BECAUSE
THERE'S A WIDER VARIETY OF MUSIC THAT YOU CAN PLAY.
SOMETIMES I RECORD IDEAS I HAD EITHER ON MY PIANO OR ON MY
VIOLIN, WHICH IS A GREAT STARTING POINT FOR ME.
I JUST OPEN UP NOTATION SOFTWARE AND JUST START MAKING SOMETHING;
LIKE USE MY MIDI KEYBOARD AND THEN LAYERING STUFF ON TOP OF
THAT. I'VE BEEN INSPIRED BY VIDEO GAME
MUSIC TO GET INTERESTED INTO DOING IT MYSELF.
A GREAT EXAMPLE OF IT WOULD BE THE "EARTHBOUND" SOUNDTRACK.
A LARGE NUMBER OF MY FRIENDS I'VE MADE THROUGH MUSIC-RELATED
THINGS. MAD FIDDLE IS A FIDDLE PROGRAM
IN MADISON TAUGHT BY SHAUNCEY ALI.
WE'VE LEARNED ALL OF OUR STUFF BY EAR.
IN MY SCHOOL ORCHESTRA PROGRAM, I PLAY VIOLA, AND IN MY SCHOOL
BAND, I PLAY BASSOON. RIGHT NOW, I AM PLAYING VIOLA IN
THE WISCONSIN YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AND IN THE PONDROM
QUARTET AS WELL. I'VE BEEN TAKING LESSONS FROM
MR. PURDUE FOR AROUND FIVE YEARS.
>> DO YOU THINK IT MEANS A SEPARATION OR JUST A STRESS?
>> HE'S GOOD AT TEACHING. AND THEN ALSO, HE HAS THE
WEIRDEST STORIES EVER. I'M GOING TO BE PLAYING
SHOSTAKOVICH'S FIRST VIOLIN CONCERTO.
THERE'S A LOT OF EXPRESSION IN IT.
I HAVE TO PUT MYSELF IN IT, SO IT DEFINITELY TAKES A LOT OF
EFFORT. PLAYING WITH THE MADISON
SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, IT'S SUCH AN HONOR.
I'VE PERFORMED WITH THEM BEFORE. IT WAS REALLY REWARDING.
IT REALLY ADDED THE LAYERS AND, LIKE, THE DEPTH.
IT'S KIND OF OVERWHELMING, BUT I HAVE A LOT OF FUN.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SHARING MY PROGRESS AND PLAYING WITH AN
ORCHESTRA AGAIN, WHICH IS ALWAYS EXCITING.
[APPLAUSE] >> OUR THIRD COMPETITOR,
15-YEAR-OLD LORENZ >> OUR THIRD COMPETITOR,
FRADKIN-ANNEN, IS NOW COMING ON STAGE.
>> SHE'S CHOSEN TO PERFORM THE CADENZA AND FOURTH MOVEMENT OF
DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH'S VIOLIN CONCERTO NO. 1 IN A MINOR.
??
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> THAT WAS 15-YEAR OLD LORENZ FRADKIN-ANNEN PERFORMING THE
CADENZA AND FOURTH MOVEMENT OF
DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH'S VIOLIN CONCERTO NO. 1 IN A MINOR.
>> BEFORE WE CONTINUE, WE'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO TELL YOU WHO
WILL BE JUDGING TONIGHT'S COMPETITION.
PROFESSOR AND CHAIR OF PIANO
STUDIES AT UW-MILWAUKEE'S PECK SCHOOL OF THE ARTS.
>> MARK DUPERE IS AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF MUSIC AND DIRECTOR
OF ORCHESTRAL STUDIES AT LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY IN APPLETON.
>> AND DAWN WOHN IS AN ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF VIOLIN AT
UW-MADISON'S MEAD WITTER SCHOOL OF MUSIC.
>> THE JUDGES TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION A RANGE OF
PERFORMANCE CRITERIA, INCLUDING QUALITY AND CONSISTENCY OF TONE,
BALANCE AND BLEND WITH THE ORCHESTRA,
MUSICALITY AND INTERPRETATION,
>> NEXT, WE HAVE TONIGHT'S FINAL AND STAGE PRESENCE.
COMPETITOR, PIANIST ANDRÉ PECK.
FROM LA CROSSE, AND I'LL BEANIST
PLAYING PROKOFIEV'S PIANO CONCERTO NO. 1, OPUS 10, IN
D-FLAT MAJOR. MY MIDDLE NAME IS “PREVIN,” SO
MY FULL NAME IS ANDRÉ PREVIN PECK, AND I AM A DESCENDANT OF
THE PREVIN FAMILY. ANDRÉ PREVIN, OF COURSE, WAS THE
EXTREMELY FAMOUS CONDUCTOR AND PIANIST.
I'M MORE DIRECTLY RELATED TO CHARLES PREVIN.
HE WAS A FILM COMPOSER - WON AN OSCAR AND WAS NOMINATED FOR A
LOT OF AWARDS. PROKOFIEV WAS DIFFERENT, AND
THERE IS A LOT MORE DISSONANCE. AND THERE'S NEW IDEAS THAT
SPARKED BECAUSE OF HIS MUSIC. HE WANTED THE MUSIC TO REFLECT
THE IDEAS THAT HE WAS SEEING IN SOCIETY.
AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS REALLY FITTING RIGHT NOW BECAUSE, YOU
KNOW, WE LIVE IN A TIME WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF STRIFE
EVERYWHERE AND IT'S KIND OF IMPORTANT TO HAVE YOUR OWN
VOICE. WE STARTED TAKING LESSONS
IN ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA. MY TEACHER IS DR. JOSEPH ZINS.
>> THAT'S RIGHT, THAT'S RIGHT. VERY GOOD.
>> HE'S GREAT. I THINK HE'S ONE OF THE MOST
DOWN-TO-EARTH PEOPLE THAT I KNOW.
HE HAS THESE OLD-SCHOOL TENDENCIES THAT ARE PART OF HIS
CHARM, BUT ALSO, FOR ME, THEY KIND OF REFLECT THE PINNACLE OF
MUSIC. >> THERE IT IS.
YEAH. >> IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE
A TEACHER THAT BOTH UNDERSTANDS YOU AND CAN COMMUNICATE WITH YOU
BUT ALSO HAS THE MUSICAL VALUES THAT I HAVE, AS WELL.
>> ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR. >> JAZZ BAND HAS ALWAYS
BEEN KIND OF A FUN THING FOR ME, BECAUSE
THE WORLD OF SOLO PIANO IS OFTENTIMES VERY LONELY.
WHEN I GET TO ENJOY MY MUSIC WITH OTHER PEOPLE, IT'S MORE OF
AN EXCITING EXPERIENCE FOR ME. >> ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR.
>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT SOME STRUCTURES THAT ARE IN JAZZ, AND
THEN YOU COMPARE THEM TO THE STRUCTURES IN CLASSICAL, AND
THEY ACTUALLY BUILD ON EACH OTHER.
EVERY SINGLE NOTE IN PROKOFIEV HAS A PURPOSE.
AND THAT'S KIND OF BEEN THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR ME TO TRY TO
DISCOVER WHEN I'M PLAYING. AND I REALLY THINK THAT IT'S
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO FIND MUSIC'S CONNECTION WITH ONE'S
SELF. WHEN I ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING ON
THE PIANO, IT HELPS ME IN OTHER PARTS OF MY LIFE.
YOU HAVE TO PUT ALL OF YOUR HEART AND SOUL INTO BEING A
MUSICIAN.
?
[APPLAUSE] >> ANDRÉ PECK IS COMING ON STAGE
NOW WITH MAESTRO JOHN DEMAIN. ANDRÉ WILL PERFORM SERGEI
PROKOFIEV'S PIANO CONCERTO NO. 1 IN D-FLAT MAJOR.
??
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> THAT WAS OUR FINAL COMPETITOR OF THE EVENING.
16-YEAR-OLD ANDRÉ PECK.
HOW ABOUT ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR ALL FOUR OF THESE
INCREDIBLE YOUNG MUSICIANS! [APPLAUSE]
>> AS WE CELEBRATE 20 YEARS OF THE "FINAL FORTE," WE'RE SO
HAPPY TO WELCOME BACK TWO FORMER
WINNERS WHO ARE HERE WITH US TONIGHT.
ONE OF THOSE IS OUR 2014 WINNER, VIOLINIST DAVID CAO.
TWELVE YEARS LATER, DAVID IS NOW DR. CAO, A 2025 GRADUATE OF THE
MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN AND A RESIDENT PHYSICIAN IN
MILWAUKEE. >> AND SOMEHOW, RIGHT,
[APPLAUSE] SOMEHOW HE STILL FINDS THE
TIME TO PERFORM WITH BOTH THE KENOSHA AND RACINE SYMPHONY
ORCHESTRAS. [APPLAUSE]
>> AND BEHIND DR. CAO, WE HAVE ANOTHER VIOLINIST, JULIAN RHEE,
WHO WAS OUR FIRST PLACE WINNER
IN 2015 AND 2017. JULIAN HAS SOLOED WITH
ORCHESTRAS ACROSS NORTH AMERICA, EUROPE, AND ASIA, AND WILL BE
PERFORMING ON THIS STAGE WITH THE MADISON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
AS PART OF THE CENTENNIAL FESTIVAL CELEBRATION
IN JUNE. WELCOME BACK, JULIAN.
[APPLAUSE]
>> AND NOW, PLEASE WELCOME BACK TO THE STAGE
MAESTRO JOHN DEMAIN. [APPLAUSE]
>> CONGRATULATIONS, MAESTRO. SO, TELL US, WHEN YOU HEAR FROM
OR EVEN TALK TO PAST FINALISTS,
HOW DOES IT MAKE YOU FEEL TO SEE WHERE ALL THAT TALENT AND
PASSION AND DETERMINATION HAS TAKEN THEM?
>> WELL, I MEAN, IT'S SO EXCITING.
I MEAN, IN JULIAN'S CASE, HE'S PURSUING A
PERFORMING CAREER, REALLY, REALLY SUCCESSFUL.
YOU KNOW, THE QUEEN ELIZABETH COMPETITION,
AND JUST, HE'S HAVING A FIRST-RATE CAREER.
CONDUCT THAT CONCERT. DIDN'T
IN 2014. I THINK IT WAS JAMES SMITH BACK
YOU KNOW, THEY TAKE BUT SO MANY OF THE WINNERS,
DOUBLE MAJORS. I WAS ASKING SOME
OF THE CONTESTANTS TONIGHT, YOU KNOW, THEY PLAN
ON DOING DOUBLE MAJORS. SOME PLAN ON GOING ON IN MUSIC.
BUT WHETHER IT'S A FULL-TIME PROFESSION OR WHETHER IT'S A
PART-TIME PASSION, THAT'S AN AVOCATION, IT WILL BE PART OF
THEIR LIVES. AND, OF COURSE,
EVEN TO PLAY IN REGIONAL ORCHESTRAS LIKE DAVID IS DOING,
YOU HAVE TO GET PAST AUDITIONS AND, OF COURSE, THIS
GIVES THEM A HEADSTART. >> THANK YOU, MAESTRO.
NOW, WHAT WILL THE ORCHESTRA BE PERFORMING TO CLOSE OUT
TONIGHT'S PERFORMANCE? >> WE'RE GONNA DO
THE LAST TWO VARIATIONS FROM TCHAIKOVSKY'S SUITE NO. 3,
THE THEME AND VARIATIONS MOVEMENT.
>> THANK YOU, MAESTRO. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MAESTRO
JOHN DEMAIN AND THE MADISON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA WITH THE
FINALE OF TCHAIKOVSKY'S SUITE NO. 3 IN G MAJOR.
??
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> MAESTRO JOHN DEMAIN AND THE MADISON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA,
WITH THE FINALE OF
TCHAIKOVSKY'S SUITE NO. 3 IN G MAJOR.
AND NOW, THE MOMENT WE'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR.
COULD I PLEASE ASK MAESTRO DEMAIN AND ALL FOUR
OF OUR COMPETITORS TO JOIN US HERE ON STAGE.
[APPLAUSE]
SO, STARTING WITH THE TWO HONORABLE MENTIONS, WE HAVE
CORDELIA FREDRICKSON.
[APPLAUSE]
AND ZACHARY LEMKE. [APPLAUSE]
>> OUR SECOND PLACE WINNER TONIGHT IS LORENZ FRADKIN-ANNEN.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> WHICH MEANS ANDRÉ PECK HAS TAKEN FIRST PLACE FOR THE 2026
BOLZ YOUNG ARTIST COMPETITION!
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL FOUR OF OUR FINALISTS ALONG WITH
MAESTRO JOHN DEMAIN AND OF COURSE THE MADISON SYMPHONY
ORCHESTRA.
[APPLAUSE]
>> A WARM AND HEARTFELT THANKS TO OUR LOVELY AUDIENCE
HERE IN OVERTURE HALL, AS WELL AS EVERYONE
LISTENING TO THE BROADCAST OR WATCHING ONLINE.
FROM OVERTURE HALL IN MADISON, I'M LORI SKELTON.
>> AND I'M CLINT WALZ. GOOD NIGHT.
[APPLAUSE]GHT.
??
YOUNG ARTISTS COMPETE: THE FINAL
FORTE” WAS PROVIDED BY: YOUNG ARTISTS COMPETE: THE FINAL
DIANE BALLWEG, W. JEROME FRAUTSCHI,
FUND, THE STANLEY AND SHIRLEY INHORN
ELIZABETH OLSON, BARBARA AND NORM BERVEN,
JAMES DAHLBERG AND ELSEBET LUND, DR. ANNETTE BEYER-MEARS,
SONYA BEUTLER SAUER, WITH ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM
KATO PERLMAN, JULIE AND LARRY MIDTBO,
SENTRY INSURANCE FOUNDATION, CYRENA AND LEE PONDROM,
DARCY KIND AND MARC VITALE, TRUSTPOINT,
AND MARY S. GERBIG, WILLIAM C. HOULIHAN
JIM AND JESSICA YEHLE, NICK AND JUDITH TOPITZES,
BOLZ AND ANNE & BOB BOLZ, THE CHILDREN OF MARIAN AND JACK
AND GRANDPARENTS, IN MEMORY OF THEIR PARENTS
DONORS TO THE FOCUS FUND EUGENIE AND ADOLPH BOLZ,
AND FRIENDS OF PBS WISCONSIN. FOR THE ARTS,
Okay. the empty floor of
But he's also bears witness.