- On March 14th, four gifted young musicians
will take the stage here at Overture Hall in Madison.
- They're vying for top honors in
the Madison Symphony Orchestra's Bolz Young Artist Competition.
They are violinist Hannah White;
violinist Arianna Brusubardis;
pianist Jessica Jiang;
and violinist Isabelle Krier.
- You'll see them perform as part of our live broadcast,
Wisconsin Young Artists Compete: The Final Forte.
- But before they take the stage, we asked them to tell us
a little about themselves, their love of music...
- ...and what is it that drew them here, into the limelight.
- My name is Hannah White.
I am 18 years old
and I live in Germantown, Wisconsin.
I have been playing violin since I was seven.
I started on piano.
And then my brother was playing violin, and I saw him.
I was like, "Ooh, I want to do that!"
When I was younger, my mom used to tell me,
"Hannah, go practice!"
But then, as I get older I just really enjoy it.
It's like a part of me now.
Competitions are my favorite thing.
I really enjoy the preparation.
It really pushes me to work for perfection.
My teacher is Danielle Belen.
She teaches at University of Michigan.
I started taking lessons with Danielle about a year ago.
- Danielle Belen: Ah! That's the first time
I've really heard the accents that I wanted to hear!
- She was very blunt and honest.
And she's been really focusing on my vibrato and sound...
- And then be a little sassier with the trill.
Da - da - DAH!
- She really pulled it out of me.
- I like that! Let's change that.
- I'll be performing the "Saint-Saens No. 3, first movement."
I really love the slow part.
It's probably one of the most beautiful slow parts
of any concerto, I think.
My teacher's always telling me
"Pull out old sounds for this piece.
It has to be really warm."
On my free time I hang out with my brothers or my cousins.
I really love my cousins.
Sometimes we'll go to arcade things.
It's just really fun.
- Ma'am, do you know why I pulled you over today?
- My brothers and I have recently been
into this thing where we make films.
Just short films, that are under a minute, for Instagram.
[Hannah speaks foreign language] - No English, no English.
- Well how about your partner, there?
- Oh no, I don't speak any English.
- So far, we have about 630 followers.
So, we've been getting really serious into this.
[laughs]
♪ ♪
I really enjoy performing.
I like the challenge and the pressure leading up to it.
I feel like I play better with more pressure.
As I walk on stage, I pray.
I look in the audience.
I usually like a big crowd.
I feel like I can speak through my violin.
And I like to express what God has given to me
to others and inspire them.
[applause]