Young Artist
Competitions

Bolz Young Artist Competition

Preliminary Round: Saturday, October 26 (strings) and Saturday, November 2 (winds and piano), 2019, First United Methodist Church, Madison
Semi-Final Round: Monday, November 18, 2019, Overture Center for the Arts
Final Round: Wednesday, February 26, 2020 (The Final Forte)

Registration for this competition is now closed. Thank you for your interest and please stay tuned for information on next year’s competition!

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 who play violin, viola, cello, bass, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, harp, piano, percussion, saxophone, organ, or classical guitar. 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 is broadcast on Wisconsin Public Television. Winners of the Bolz Young Artist Competition are featured as soloists with the MSO during the Spring Young People’s Concert. Each winner also 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 MSO Director of Education and Community Engagement Kathryn Schwarzmann at kschwarzmann@madisonsymphony.org with any questions.