% THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A PBS
% WISCONSIN ORIGINAL PRODUCTION.
% ♪
% >> THEY SHARE A COMMON BOND:
% TALENTED YOUNG MUSICIANS WITH A
% PASSION TO PERFORM AND A
% DRIVE TO EXCEL, EAGER TO TAKE
% THE STAGE AND FULFILL THEIR
% DREAMS.
% THE MADISON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA,
% UNDER THE BATON OF MUSIC
% DIRECTOR JOHN DEMAIN, WELCOMES
% THE FOUR FINALISTS TO OVERTURE
% HALL: ANDREÉ PECK, JANE STORY,
% KATARINA KENNEY, AND ELLIOT
% LESPERANCE.
% IT'S "WISCONSIN YOUNG ARTISTS
% COMPETE: THE FINAL FORTE."
% MAJOR FUNDING FOR ""THE FINAL
% FORTE" IS PROVIDED BY:
% W. JEROME FRAUTSCHI.
% DIANE BALLWEG.
% BARBARA AND NORM BERVEN.
% WITH ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM:
% JAMES DAHLBERG AND ELSEBET LUND.
% JULIE AND LARRY MIDTBO.
% ELIZABETH OLSON.
% KATO PERLMAN.
% SENTRY INSURANCE FOUNDATION.
% TRUST POINT.
% CYRENA AND LEE PONDROM.
% DARCY KIND AND MARC VITALE.
% DOCTOR A. BEYER-MEARS.
% JOAN JOHNSTON.
% DONORS TO THE FOCUS FUND FOR THE
% ARTS.
% AND FRIENDS OF PBS WISCONSIN.
% ♪
% [APPLAUSE]
% >> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO
% "FINAL FORTE," THE CULMINATION
% OF THE 2024 BOLZ YOUNG
% ARTIST COMPETITION.
% I'M LORI SKELTON, HOST OF
% WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO'S
% ""AFTERNOON CLASSICS."
% >> AND I'M CLINT WALZ, DIRECTOR
% OF INDIVIDUAL GIVING AT PBS
% WISCONSIN.
% 2024 MARKS THE 18TH YEAR OF THIS
% HISTORIC COLLABORATION BETWEEN
% THE MADISON SYMPHONY
% ORCHESTRA, WISCONSIN PUBLIC
% RADIO, AND PBS WISCONSIN, A
% PARTNERSHIP FORMED TO
% RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THE
% ACHIEVEMENTS OF WISCONSIN'S
% BRIGHTEST YOUNG PERFORMERS.
% >> TONIGHT, LIVE FROM OVERTURE
% HALL IN MADISON, FOUR TALENTED
% AND EXTREMELY DEDICATED
% TEENAGERS WILL COMPETE FOR TOP
% HONORS.
% THE WINNER OF TONIGHT'S
% COMPETITION WILL RECEIVE THE
% MARIAN BOLZ PRIZE FOR
% DISTINGUISHED MUSICAL
% ACHIEVEMENT, WHICH INCLUDES A
% $2,000 SCHOLARSHIP.
% >> SECOND PLACE WILL RECEIVE THE
% STEENBOCK YOUTH MUSIC AWARD,
% WHICH ALSO INCLUDES A
% $2,000 SCHOLARSHIP.
% TWO HONORABLE MENTION
% SCHOLARSHIPS OF $1,000 WILL BE
% AWARDED AS WELL.
% >> TONIGHT'S FINALISTS EMERGED
% FROM A FIELD OF 35 STUDENTS FROM
% AROUND THE STATE WHO AUDITIONED
% FOR THE BOLZ COMPETITION IN
% JANUARY.
% THEY ARE:
% PIANIST ANDREÉ PECK OF LA CROSSE.
% CELLIST KATARINA KENNEY OF
% MADISON.
% MARIMBIST ELLIOT LESPERANCE OF
% OREGON.
% AND VIOLINIST JANE STORY OF
% STEVENS POINT.
% >> ALL WILL PERFORM HERE
% TONIGHT, ACCOMPANIED BY THE
% MAGNIFICENT MADISON SYMPHONY
% ORCHESTRA, UNDER THE BATON OF
% MUSIC DIRECTOR JOHN DEMAIN, NOW
% CELEBRATING HIS 30TH SEASON WITH
% THE ORCHESTRA.
% LET'S GET A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
% [APPLAUSE]
% >> SO, WITHOUT FURTHER ADO,
% LET'S BEGIN TONIGHT'S
% COMPETITION WITH THE FIRST OF
% OUR FOUR FINALISTS, PIANIST
% ANDREÉ PECK.
% ♪
% >> I'M ANDREÉ PECK.
% I'M 14 YEARS OLD, AND I PLAY
% PIANO.
% I'VE BEEN PLAYING SINCE I WAS
% FOUR-AND-A-HALF.
% I LIKE THAT YOU CAN IMITATE THE
% SOUND OF AN ORCHESTRA BECAUSE
% YOU HAVE ALL THESE DIFFERENT
% VOICES THAT YOU CAN PLAY.
% MUSIC HELPS YOU SAY THINGS THAT
% YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO SAY IN
% WORDS.
% THERE ARE SO MANY MORE EMOTIONS
% THAT YOU CAN CONVEY THROUGH
% MUSIC.
% ♪
% >> NOW GET SET.
% >> MY TEACHER IS DR. JOSEPH
% ZINS. EVERYTHING HE SAYS HAS A
% PURPOSE, WHICH I REALLY LIKE.
% >> GIVE IT A LOT OF TONE ON THE
% BASS.
% MM HMM.
% >> HE FOSTERS A LOVE THROUGH THE
% INSTRUMENT BY REFERENCING THE
% CLASSICAL MUSIC GODS.
% IT'S ALMOST LIKE A RELIGION FOR
% HIM BECAUSE IT'S BEEN WITH HIM
% ALL OF HIS LIFE, AND HE'S TRYING
% TO FOSTER THAT WITH ME.
% >> YEAH.
% YOU KNOW THE OLD SAYING: ""IF IT
% AIN'T BROKE, DON'T FIX IT!"
% FOR FUN, I GENERALLY DO THINGS
% WITH MY FRIENDS.
% WE PLAY LOTS OF BOARD GAMES
% BECAUSE OUR PUBLIC LIBRARY DOES
% BOARD GAME RENTALS, WHICH IS
% REALLY COOL, BECAUSE YOU CAN
% JUST CYCLE THROUGH PRETTY MUCH
% INFINITE THINGS.
% I'M A FRESHMAN IN HIGH SCHOOL,
% BUT I GO TO THE UNIVERSITY OF
% WISCONSIN -- LA CROSSE FOR MUSIC
% THEORY CLASSES AND FOR MATH.
% I'M PROBABLY GOING TO GET A
% BACHELOR'S IN MATH, BUT
% HOPEFULLY THEN I CAN GO TO MUSIC
% SCHOOL AND KEEP MUSIC, LIKE,
% THROUGH MY ENTIRE LIFE.
% THEY'RE OPPOSITES, BECAUSE ONE
% OF THEM IS SUPER LOGICAL AND THE
% OTHER IS REALLY EMOTIONAL, WHICH
% I REALLY LIKE, THE VARIETY.
% I WAS IN THE INTERNATIONAL YOUNG
% ARTIST CONCERTO COMPETITION.
% THEY HAVE 16 KIDS PLAY WITH A
% PROFESSIONAL ORCHESTRA, WHICH IS
% THE MOST I'VE EVER SEEN BEFORE.
% IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE.
% PLAYING WITH AN ORCHESTRA IS
% JUST ONE OF THOSE EXPERIENCES
% THAT YOU DON'T FORGET.
% PLAYING WITH THE MADISON
% SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, I THINK IT'S
% GOING TO BE REALLY EXCITING
% BECAUSE THEY ARE SUPER HIGH
% LEVEL.
% I'M PLAYING SAINT-SAEËNS' 2ND
% CONCERTO, THE FIRST MOVEMENT.
% IT STARTS REALLY TRAGIC, AND
% THEN IT KIND OF GETS TO A MORE
% HOPEFUL SECTION.
% >> AND I REALLY LIKE THE VARIETY
% BECAUSE IT CHALLENGES ME IN
% EVERY WAY, WHICH I NEED TO
% DO IT TO SURVIVE AS A MUSICIAN.
% MY TEACHER ALWAYS SAYS THAT IF
% YOU HAVE A FEELING, THEN YOU
% CONVEY IT THROUGH THE MUSIC
% AND THE AUDIENCE IS GOING TO
% FEEL IT AS WELL.
% IF YOU WANT TO SERVE OTHER
% PEOPLE WITH MUSIC, YOU HAVE TO
% SERVE THE MUSIC FIRST.
% I'M PROUD OF THE THING THAT I
% GET TO DO BECAUSE I GET TO
% SHOWCASE WHAT I'VE DONE AND MY
% HARD WORK IN FRONT OF SO MANY
% PEOPLE.
% [APPLAUSE]
% >> AND NOW, ANDREÉ PECK IS TAKING
% THE STAGE ALONG WITH MAESTRO
% JOHN DEMAIN.
% >> ANDREÉ WILL BE PERFORMING THE
% FIRST MOVEMENT OF CAMILLE
% SAINT-SAEËNS' PIANO CONCERTO
% NO. 2 IN G MINOR.
% >> SAINT-SAEËNS WAS A FRENCH
% COMPOSER, CONDUCTOR AND PIANIST
% OF THE LATE 19TH AND EARLY 20TH
% CENTURIES.
% HIS SECOND PIANO CONCERTO WAS
% COMPOSED IN 1868.
% THOUGH NOT INITIALLY SUCCESSFUL,
% IT HAS BECOME ARGUABLY HIS MOST
% POPULAR PIANO CONCERTO.
% ♪
% [APPLAUSE]
% [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
% >> THAT WAS 14-YEAR-OLD ANDREÉ
% PECK, PERFORMING THE FIRST
% MOVEMENT OF CAMILLE SAINT-SAEËN''
% PIANO CONCERTO NO. 2 IN G MINOR.
% ANDREÉ IS THE FIRST OF FOUR
% COMPETITORS IN THIS FINAL ROUND
% OF THE 2024 BOLZ YOUNG ARTIST
% COMPETITION.
% >> FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE
% BOLZ COMPETITION, AS WELL AS
% OTHER MADISON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
% PERFORMANCES, VISIT THE
% ORCHESTRA'S WEBSITE AT
% MADISONSYMPHONY.ORG.
% OUR NEXT COMPETITOR TONIGHT IS
% VIOLINIST JANE STORY.
% ♪
% >> MY NAME IS JANE STORY, AND I
% AM A 17-YEAR-OLD JUNIOR FROM
% STEVENS POINT, WISCONSIN.
% I'VE BEEN PLAYING THE VIOLIN FOR
% 13 YEARS.
% I ALWAYS HEARD CLASSICAL MUSIC
% GROWING UP.
% MY MOM'S A SINGER, MY DAD DOES
% CLASSICAL AND JAZZ DOUBLE-BASS.
% SO IT WAS JUST ALWAYS AROUND,
% ALWAYS A PART OF MY LIFE.
% I'M GOING TO BE PERFORMING
% MENDELSSOHN'S VIOLIN CONCERTO IN
% E MINOR, FIRST MOVEMENT.
% IT HAS SUCH A WIDE RANGE OF
% EMOTIONS.
% THERE ARE PLACES WHERE IT'S VERY
% SWEET AND SENTIMENTAL, AND
% THERE'S OTHER PLACES WHERE IT
% SOUNDS LIKE THE VIOLIN IS
% SCREAMING IN PAIN.
% AND I LOVE THE RANGE OF COLORS
% THAT I GET TO CREATE.
% PROBABLY MY FAVORITE PART OF THE
% PIECE IS TOWARDS THE END OF THE
% MOVEMENT.
% THERE'S THIS HUGE OCTAVE RUN.
% IT'S A GREAT TECHNICAL
% CHALLENGE, AND IT'S ALSO VERY
% EXCITING.
% I AM CURRENTLY STUDYING WITH DR.
% ANNA CROMWELL AT THE UNIVERSITY
% OF WISCONSIN--STEVENS POINT.
% I HAVE BEEN WANTING TO PLAY THIS
% CONCERTO FOR A VERY LONG TIME,
% BUT I NEVER TALKED TO MY TEACHER
% ABOUT IT.
% I WAS VERY EXCITED WHEN SHE TOLD
% ME THAT IT WOULD BE MY NEXT
% PIECE TO LEARN.
% >> AND SO WE REALLY WANT THE
% MOTION TO HAPPEN HERE.
% >> I REALLY LIKE HOW SHE FOCUSES
% ON BOTH THE TECHNICAL AND THE
% MUSICAL SIDE OF MY DEVELOPMENT
% AS A MUSICIAN.
% DR. CROMWELL AND I BEGAN WORKING
% ON THIS PIECE AT THE BEGINNING
% OF THE SUMMER.
% WE REALLY FOCUSED ON THE
% TECHNICAL CHALLENGES FIRST.
% LATELY WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THE
% MUSICAL SIDE: THE BEAUTIFUL LONG
% LINES AND CREATING A CONTRAST
% BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT
% CHARACTERS.
% BECAUSE THERE ARE PLAYFUL
% CHARACTERS, THERE'S SWEET
% CHARACTERS AND THERE'S ANGRY
% CHARACTERS.
% >> YEAH.
% OKAY.
% I THINK THAT WAS BETTER.
% >> I'VE BEEN A MEMBER OF WYSO
% FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS.
% MY FAMILY AND I DRIVE DOWN THERE
% EVERY WEEKEND.
% BEING A PART OF WYSO HAS TAUGHT
% ME A LOT ABOUT LISTENING
% CAREFULLY AND CARVING MY SOUND
% SO THAT IT FITS WITHIN A
% SECTION.
% BECAUSE THE AUDIENCE DOESN'T
% WANT TO HEAR JUST ME, THEY WANT
% TO HEAR EVERYONE, AS ONE BIG,
% BEAUTIFUL SOUND.
% PERFORMING IN THE "FINAL FORTE"
% INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCES OF MY
% LIFE.
% WHEN YOU FINISH A PIECE, IT'S
% ALMOST LIKE YOU DON'T REMEMBER
% ANYTHING THAT'S JUST HAPPENED.
% IT'S LIKE IT'S ONLY BEEN A
% SECOND SINCE YOU JUST STEPPED ON
% STAGE.
% EXCEPT YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE A
% COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PERSON
% BECAUSE YOU'VE GONE ON A JOURNEY
% WITH THE PIECE.
% I THINK MY FAVORITE THING ABOUT
% PLAYING MUSIC IS THAT THERE'S
% NEVER AN END POINT.
% YOU CAN ALWAYS LEARN SOMETHING
% NEW, CREATE SOMETHING DIFFERENT
% OR EXPLORE A DIFFERENT SIDE OF
% EACH PIECE THAT YOU LEARN.
% I THINK MUSIC IS JUST THE MOST
% WONDERFUL THING.
% AND VIOLIN IS MY WAY OF BEING A
% PART OF THE MUSIC.
% [APPLAUSE]
% >> JANE STORY IS COMING ON STAGE
% NOW TO PERFORM THE FIRST
% MOVEMENT OF MENDELSSOHN'S
% VIOLIN CONCERTO IN E MINOR.
% >> FELIX MENDELSSOHN WAS A
% GERMAN COMPOSER, PIANIST AND
% CONDUCTOR OF THE EARLY ROMANTIC
% PERIOD.
% THE VIOLIN CONCERTO IN E MINOR
% IS MENDELSSOHN'S FINAL CONCERTO.
% ♪
% [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
% >> THAT WAS 17-YEAR-OLD JANE
% STORY PERFORMING THE FIRST
% MOVEMENT OF FELIX MENDELSSOHN'S
% VIOLIN CONCERTO IN E MINOR.
% WHILE SHE'S TAKING HER BOWS,
% WE'D LIKE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT
% THE MADISON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
% OFFERS A COMPETITION FOR YOUNGER
% MUSICIANS, AS WELL.
% >> THE FALL YOUTH CONCERTO
% COMPETITION IS OPEN TO MUSICIANS
% IN GRADES THREE THROUGH
% EIGHT.
% THE WINNER GOES ON TO PERFORM IN
% A PROGRAM WITH THE MADISON
% SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.
% INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND ON THE
% ORCHESTRA'S WEBSITE AT
% MADISONSYMPHONY.ORG.
% >> COMING UP NEXT, WE'RE GOING
% TO HEAR FROM OUR THIRD
% COMPETITOR, CELLIST KATARINA
% KENNEY.
% ♪
% >> MY NAME IS KATARINA KENNEY,
% I'M A 15-YEAR-OLD CELLIST, AND
% I'M A FRESHMAN AT MADISON
% COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL.
% I'VE BEEN PLAYING SINCE I WAS
% THREE-AND-A-HALF.
% MUSIC HAS ALWAYS RUN THROUGH MY
% HOUSE.
% MY MOM PLAYS VIOLIN, MY DAD
% PLAYS A LITTLE BIT OF
% DOUBLE-BASS, AND MY SISTER PLAYS
% VIOLIN.
% MY FIRST RECITAL WAS ACTUALLY
% WITH HER, PLAYING ""POP GOES THE
% WEASEL."
% MUSIC HAS BROUGHT US TOGETHER.
% I FEEL REALLY HONORED TO HAVE
% SUCH A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP.
% LIKE, LITERALLY.
% UH HUH, SO [VOCALIZING]...
% >> I STUDY WITH CORNELIA
% WATKINS.
% >> YEAH!
% >> SHE HELPS ME TO DIVE DEEP
% INTO FIGURING OUT WHAT I
% WANT TO EXPRESS, WHILE ALSO
% FINDING A BALANCE BETWEEN WHAT
% THE COMPOSER REALLY WANTS.
% >> ARE YOU AWARE OF WHERE THE
% ACCENTS ARE...IN THIS SECTION?
% >> SHE DOESN'T LET ME GET AWAY
% WITH ANYTHING.
% BUT SHE'S VERY SUPPORTIVE.
% >> GOOD!
% NOW LET'S KEEP GOING.
% THAT SOUNDED BEAUTIFUL.
% >> I'VE BEEN A PART OF THE
% MADISON YOUTH CHOIRS FOR EIGHT
% SEASONS NOW.
% WHEN I SING, I FEEL LIKE I AM
% THE INSTRUMENT.
% [CHOIR SINGING]
% >> EACH CONCERT SEASON THERE'S A
% THEME.
% WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE AND EMILY
% DICKINSON.
% THE MADISON YOUTH CHOIR
% INTRODUCED ME TO THOSE POETS.
% I LOVE TO READ AND WRITE.
% I LOVE BEING ABLE TO, LIKE,
% BRING MY IDEAS TO LIFE AND TO
% EXPRESS MY EMOTIONS, JUST LIKE I
% DO WITH MY CELLO.
% READING JUST LETS ME ESCAPE FROM
% THE REAL WORLD AND USE THE
% CREATIVE PART OF MY MIND.
% I'M A PART OF THE MUSIC
% INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO ACADEMY.
% WE GO DOWN EVERY SATURDAY.
% IT REQUIRES A LOT OF EFFORT FROM
% THE WHOLE GROUP.
% AND I FEEL LIKE MY QUARTET HAS
% REALLY DEVELOPED A RELATIONSHIP
% AND WE'RE ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER
% AND BRING ALL OF OUR IDEAS
% TOGETHER TO CREATE MUSIC.
% I HAVE HAD THE EXPERIENCE OF
% PLAYING WITH THE MADISON
% SYMPHONY MULTIPLE TIMES.
% I GOT TO PLAY WITH THEM AGAIN
% THIS PAST SPRING, PLAYING THE
% FIRST TWO MOVEMENTS OF ELGAR, SO
% IT'LL BE SUPER EXCITING TO BE
% ABLE TO PLAY THE LAST MOVEMENT.
% ELGAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN ONE OF MY
% DREAM PIECES.
% IT HAS A VERY WIDE PALETTE OF
% COLORS THAT YOU CAN USE WITH
% YOUR BOW.
% SOME OF THE MORE LYRICAL AND
% DANCING MELODIES IS REFLECTING
% HIS PAST WITH HIS WIFE.
% WHEN YOU PRACTICE AT HOME,
% YOU'RE, LIKE, MORE FOCUSED ON
% YOUR INDIVIDUAL GROWTH AS A
% MUSICIAN.
% BUT WHEN YOU FINALLY GET TO SOLO
% WITH AN ORCHESTRA LIKE MSO, IT'S
% REALLY SPECIAL AND YOU GET TO
% BRING ALL YOUR HARD WORK TO
% LIFE.
% [APPLAUSE]
% >> OUR THIRD COMPETITOR,
% 15-YEAR-OLD KATARINA KENNEY, IS
% NOW COMING ON STAGE.
% >> SHE'S CHOSEN TO PERFORM THE
% FOURTH MOVEMENT OF EDWARD
% ELGAR'S CELLO CONCERTO
% IN E MINOR.
% EDWARD ELGAR WAS AN ENGLISH
% COMPOSER OF THE LATE 19TH AND
% EARLY 20TH CENTURIES.
% HE WAS APPOINTED MASTER OF THE
% KING'S MUSICK IN 1924.
% HIS CELLO CONCERTO IS ONE OF HIS
% LATER WORKS, COMPOSED DURING THE
% SUMMER OF 1919.
% IT HAS BECOME A CORNERSTONE OF
% THE SOLO CELLO REPERTOIRE.
% ♪
% [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
% >> THAT WAS KATARINA KENNEY
% PERFORMING THE FOURTH MOVEMENT
% OF EDWARD ELGAR'S CELLO CONCERTO
% IN E MINOR.
% >> BEFORE WE CONTINUE, WE'D LIKE
% TO TAKE A MOMENT TO TELL YOU WHO
% WILL BE JUDGING TONIGHT'S
% COMPETITION.
% ILANA SETAPEN IS THE FIRST
% ASSOCIATE CONCERTMASTER OF THE
% MILWAUKEE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AND
% IS ON THE FACULTY AT THE
% UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN.
% >> ANTHONY PADILLA IS PROFESSOR
% OF PIANO, CHAMBER MUSIC AND
% COLLABORATIVE PIANO AT THE
% LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY CONSERVATORY
% OF MUSIC IN APPLETON, WISCONSIN.
% >> AND MARK DUPERE IS CURRENTLY
% ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF MUSIC AND
% DIRECTOR OF ORCHESTRAL STUDIES,
% ALSO AT LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY IN
% APPLETON.
% >> THE JUDGES TAKE INTO
% CONSIDERATION A RANGE OF
% PERFORMANCE CRITERIA INCLUDING:
% QUALITY AND CONSISTENCY OF TONE,
% BALANCE AND BLEND WITH THE
% ORCHESTRA, MATURITY OF SOUND,
% MUSICALITY, AND STAGE PRESENCE.
% >> NEXT, WE'RE GOING TO
% INTRODUCE YOU TO TONIGHT'S FINAL
% COMPETITOR, MARIMBIST ELLIOT
% LESPERANCE.
% ♪
% >> MY NAME IS ELLIOT LESPERANCE.
% I'M 16-YEARS-OLD, AND I GO TO
% OREGON HIGH SCHOOL.
% I'VE BEEN PLAYING THE MARIMBA
% FOR ABOUT SIX YEARS.
% WHEN I WAS FIVE, I PLAYED PIANO,
% AND THEN I GAVE IT UP TO PURSUE
% MARIMBA.
% I LIKE THE MARIMBA REPERTOIRE.
% IT'S VAST.
% AND I LOVE ALL THE MODERN MUSIC
% AND HOW EXPRESSIVE IT IS.
% I CHOSE TO PLAY PRISM RHAPSODY
% FOR THIS COMPETITION BECAUSE IT
% DELVES INTO SO MANY DIFFERENT
% ELEMENTS OF MUSIC.
% ON TOP OF THAT, IT SHOWS AN
% INCREDIBLE DISPLAY OF TECHNICAL
% FACILITY.
% PRISM RHAPSODY WAS COMPOSED BY
% KEIKO ABE.
% THE HARMONICS OF HER
% COMPOSITIONS ORIGINATE FROM MORE
% CLASSICAL JAPANESE MUSIC, AND
% SHE INCORPORATES IN WESTERN
% CLASSICAL MUSIC, AND I LOVE THE
% FUSION OF THOSE TWO ELEMENTS.
% I TAKE LESSONS WITH DR. TODD
% HAMMES.
% HE IS VERY CREATIVE AND GIVES A
% LOT OF METAPHORS AND
% DESCRIPTIONS FOR HOW PHRASES AND
% SHAPES AND ALL SORTS OF ARTISTIC
% ELEMENTS WORK.
% >> WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO MAKE
% THIS SHAPE?
% >> WE'RE ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT
% HOW TO IMPROVE TECHNIQUE.
% >> YEAH, ESPECIALLY UP HERE.
% >> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ART.
% HE DOESN'T JUST TELL YOU TO DO
% THINGS.
% >> IT'S THE ONLY NOTE IN THE
% MEASURE THAT...
% >> HE EXPLAINS THINGS IN A VERY
% DEEP WAY.
% I LOVE TO SPEND TIME WITH MY
% BROTHER.
% >> COME ON!
% YOU'VE...GOT...THIS!
% I'M A GYM-BRO, FOR SURE.
% SOMETIMES WE LIFT WEIGHTS
% TOGETHER.
% SOMETIMES WE PLAY VIDEO GAMES.
% I TAKE PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE AND
% JAZZ STUDIES WITH MS. JAEGER.
% SHE'S ALWAYS PUSHING US, ALWAYS
% GETTING US TO WORK ON MORE
% CHALLENGING THINGS.
% I LOVE PLAYING DRUM SET.
% IT HAS AMAZING VERSATILITY.
% IT CAN COMPRISE THE ENTIRE
% RHYTHMIC BASE OF A PIECE.
% I ALSO LOVE WORKING WITH THE
% YOUNGER STUDENTS AND HELPING
% THEM.
% I WAS TALKING TO ONE OF MY
% YOUNGER PERCUSSIONISTS TODAY.
% HE WAS HITTING THE NODES OF THE
% BAR A LOT, WHERE THE SOUND
% QUALITY ISN'T AS GOOD.
% SO I HELPED HIM FIGURE OUT HOW
% TO PLAY HIS PART WITHOUT HITTING
% THOSE NODES AND WHILE GETTING
% THE BEST SOUND QUALITY OUT OF
% THE INSTRUMENT.
% >> GOOD JOB!
% >> DR. HAMMES CAME TO ME WITH
% THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE
% COMPETITION A YEAR AGO.
% HE TOLD ME THAT HE THOUGHT THAT
% I COULD DO IT.
% AND I DIDN'T THINK THAT I COULD
% MAKE IT THIS FAR.
% BUT I WORKED ON THAT A LOT, AND
% HERE I AM.
% ♪
% [APPLAUSE]
% >> ELLIOT LESPERANCE IS COMING
% ON STAGE NOW WITH MAESTRO JOHN
% DEMAIN.
% ELLIOT WILL PERFORM COMPOSER
% KEIKO ABE'S PRISM RHAPSODY.
% >> 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.
% PRISM RHAPSODY WAS ONE OF ABE'S
% FIRST WORKS FOR MARIMBA AND
% ORCHESTRA.
% THE WORLD PREMIERE TOOK PLACE IN
% 11996
% ♪
% [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
% >> THAT WAS OUR FINAL COMPETITOR
% THIS EVENING: 16-YEAR-OLD ELLIOT
% LESPERANCE.
% HOW ABOUT ANOTHER ROUND OF
% APPLAUSE FOR ALL FOUR OF THESE
% INCREDIBLE PERFORMERS!
% [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
% >> NOW, WOULD YOU PLEASE WELCOME
% MAESTRO JOHN DEMAIN BACK TO THE
% STAGE.
% [APPLAUSE]
% MAESTRO, FIRST OF ALL,
% CONGRATULATIONS.
% >> THANK YOU.
% >> THIS IS YOUR 30TH SEASON AS
% MUSIC DIRECTOR OF THE MADISON
% SYMPHONY.
% YOU'VE BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH THE
% "FINAL FORTE" SINCE ITS
% INCEPTION BACK IN 2007.
% CAN YOU TELL US HOW THIS
% COLLABORATION WITH WISCONSIN
% PUBLIC MEDIA CAME ABOUT?
% >> WELL, I THINK IT WAS THE
% BRAIN CHILD OF ANDRES YOKUM.
% WE WERE THINKING WHAT WOULD BE
% THE IDEAL THING TO DO?
% AND SINCE THIS HAS EXISTED SINCE
% BEFORE THE TELEVISION SHOW, WE
% WERE ALWAYS BLOWN AWAY BY THESE
% TEENAGERS, WHAT THEY COULD DO.
% SO GET AN IDEA TO DO FINALS WITH
% AN ORCHESTRA.
% THEY'VE BEEN HOPING FOR A CHANCE
% TO PLAY WITH AN ORCHESTRA.
% AND, YOU KNOW, RIGHT FROM THE
% BEGINNING, I SAY THIS IS ONE OF
% THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS WE DO,
% BECAUSE THIS IS SO MOTIVATIONAL
% FOR NOT ONLY FOR THESE KIDS, WHO
% DON'T REALLY NEED MOTIVATION
% BECAUSE THEY'RE SO PASSIONATE
% ABOUT WHAT THEY DO, BUT FOR
% EVERYBODY ELSE OUT THERE TO SEE
% WHAT YOU CAN GO WHEN YOU'RE
% PASSIONATE ABOUT SOMETHING.
% YOU JUST GO WITH YOUR PASSION.
% THE PIANIST PRACTICES FOR THREE
% HOURS BEFORE HE GOES TO SCHOOL.
% >> WE KNOW HOW MUCH THIS
% COMPETITION HAS MEANT TO THE
% FINALISTS OVER THE YEARS, MANY
% OF WHOM HAVE GONE ON TO
% SUCCESSFUL CAREERS IN THE FIELD
% OF MUSIC.
% BUT WHAT HAS IT MEANT
% TO YOU TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE
% "FINAL FORTE" FOR THE LAST 18
% YEARS?
% >> WELL, IT'S NOT ONLY ME, BUT
% IT'S THIS ORCHESTRA.
% THEY SAY TO ME, FOR ALL OF US,
% IT'S SO INSPIRATIONAL, YOU KNOW.
% BECAUSE I WOULD VENTURE TO SAY
% THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE
% ORCHESTRA WERE JUST LIKE THAT
% WHEN THEY WERE 14, 15, 16, 17.
% IF NOT, THEY REALLY PRACTICED
% HARD AFTERWARDS BECAUSE THEY'RE
% REALLY GOOD NOW.
% BUT IT'S -- YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER
% WHEN I WAS 18.
% I WON THE PIANO COMPETITION FOR
% MY LOCAL SYMPHONY.
% I REMEMBER PLAYING THAT
% CONCERTO.
% IT WAS LIFE TRANSFORMING.
% IT'S THREE OR FOUR DAYS.
% BUT IT'S THE SOUND, THE FEELING,
% THE EMOTION.
% EVERYTHING.
% SO I KNOW WHAT THESE KIDS ARE
% FEELING.
% AND THEY ALL TELL ME, YOU KNOW.
% SURE THEY'RE INTERESTED IN THE
% CASH PRIZES, BUT IT'S PLAYING
% WITH THE ORCHESTRA THAT IS SO
% MUCH FUN FOR THEM.
% AND IT'S FUN FOR ME, TOO.
% I'M AMAZED TO SEE HOW SMART THEY
% ARE PLAYING WITH THE ORCHESTRA
% AT THAT AGE.
% >> WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
% MAESTRO.
% AND NOW, WHAT WILL THE ORCHESTRA
% BE PERFORMING TO CLOSE OUT
% TONIGHT'S CONCERT?
% >> WE WILL BE PERFORMING THE
% OVERTURE TO DIE FLEDERMAUS BY
% JOHANN STRAUSS.
% >> JOHN DEMAIN AND THE MADISON
% SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA WITH DIE FRED
% --FIEDERMAUS BY JOHANN STRAUSS.
% ♪
% [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
% >> MAESTRO JOHN DEMAIN AND THE
% MADISON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA WITH
% THE OVERTURE TO DIE FLEDERMAUS
% BY JOHANN STRAUSS II.
% AND NOW, THE MOMENT WE'VE ALL
% BEEN WAITING FOR.
% CAN WE HAVE MAESTRO DEMAIN AND
% ALL FOUR OF TONIGHT'S
% COMPETITORS JOIN US HERE ON
% STAGE, PLEASE.
% [APPLAUSE]
% >> BEFORE WE PRESENT THE AWARDS,
% WE FIRST WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE
% FACT THAT ALL FOUR OF THESE
% EXTRAORDINARILY-TALENTED YOUNG
% ARTISTS ARE INDEED WINNERS, EACH
% OF THEM TRULY DESERVING OF THE
% OPPORTUNITY TO PERFORM HERE
% TONIGHT WITH THE MADISON
% SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.
% [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
% >> SO, STARTING WITH THE TWO
% HONORABLE MENTIONS, WE HAVE:
% ELLIOT LESPERANCE.
% [APPLAUSE]
% >> AND ANDRAE PECK.
% [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
% >> OUR SECOND PLACE WINNER IS
% JANE STORY.
% [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
% >> WHICH MEANS CA KATARINA KENNY
% IS THE WINNER FOR THE 2024 BOLZ
% YOUNG ARTIST COMPETITION.
% [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
% >> CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL FOUR
% OF OUR FINALISTS, ALONG WITH
% MUSIC DIRECTOR JOHN DEMAIN
% AND THE MADISON SYMPHONY
% ORCHESTRA.
% [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
% >> A WARM AND HEARTFELT THANK
% YOU TO OUR LOVELY AUDIENCE
% TONIGHT, AS WELL AS ALL OF THOSE
% WHO JOINED IN THE BROADCAST OR
% IS WATCHING ONLINE.
% FROM OVERTURE HALL IN MADISON,
% I'M LORI SKELTON.
% >> AND I'M CLINT WALZ.
% GOODNIGHT.
% >> GOOD NIGHT.
% [APPLAUSE]
% MAJOR FUNDING FOR "WISCONSIN
% YOUNG ARTISTS COMPETE: THE FINAL
% FORTE" WAS PROVIDED BY:
% W. JEROME FRAUTSCHI.
% DIANE BALLWEG.
% BARBARA AND NORM BERVEN.
% WITH ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM:
% JAMES DAHLBERG AND ELSEBET LUND.
% JULIE AND LARRY MIDTBO.
% ELIZABETH OLSON.
% KATO PERLMAN.
% SENTRY INSURANCE FOUNDATION.
% TRUST POINT.
% CYRENA AND LEE PONDROM.
% DARCY KIND AND MARC VITALE.
% DOCTOR A. BEYER-MEARS.
% JOAN JOHNSTON.
% DONORS TO THE FOCUS FUND FOR THE
% ARTS.
% AND FRIENDS OF PBS WISCONSIN.