Bolz Young Artist Competition

2024 Competition Information

There will be three rounds of competition:
Preliminary Round: Saturday, January 6, 2024 (tentative)
Semi-Final Round: Friday, January 12, 2024 (tentative)
Final Round (The Final Forte): Wednesday, March 6, 2024 at Overture Center for the Arts

About The Final Forte

The Bolz Young Artist Competition is a highly-regarded statewide competition in which Wisconsin’s young musicians compete for scholarships and the opportunity to perform as soloists with the MSO. The competition is open to Wisconsin residents in grades 9-12. Previous winners may not compete in consecutive years on the same instrument. Contracted musicians of the MSO are ineligible.

The four semi-finalists compete in The Final Forte, which will be broadcast on PBS Wisconsin and Wisconsin Public Radio. Each winner receives a $2000 scholarship and the Marian Bolz Prize for Distinguished Musical Achievement or the Steenbock Youth Music Award. Up to two Honorable Mention scholarships of $1000 may also be awarded.

Contact Director of Education and Community Engagement Lisa Kjentvet at with any questions.

Thank you to our partners

The Bolz Young Artist Competition is made possible by a generous endowment from

The Eugenie Mayer Bolz Family Foundation

Wisconsin Young Artists Compete: The Final Forte concert and broadcasts are the result of a historic partnership among

Major funding provided by

Fred and Mary Mohs

Additional funding provided by

Julie and Larry Midtbo

Cyrena and Lee Pondrom

Dr. A. Beyer-Mears

Focus Fund for the Arts

Special thanks to Farley’s House of Pianos for providing the pianos for our Young Artist Competition auditions