Young Artist
Competitions

Bolz Young Artist Competition

2020 Competition Information

Three rounds of the competition:
Preliminary Round: Video submission due with application, January 11
Semi-Final Round: No additional submission required
Final Round (The Final Forte): Wednesday, March 3, 2021, live on Overture Hall stage (no audience, piano accompaniment only)

The Final Forte 2021

We are pleased to announce the results of the Madison Symphony Orchestra’s 2021 Bolz Young Artist Competition! The final round of the competition took place in Overture Hall on Wednesday, March 3, 2021. The four finalists performed their concerto selections with piano accompaniment for a panel of three judges. Verbal introductions of the finalists and their musical selections were made from the stage by MSO’s Music Director, John DeMain, and MSO’s Director of Education and Community Engagement, Kathryn Schwarzmann.

The Final Forte competition was captured by Audio for the Arts and Painted Post Multimedia in Overture Hall. Wisconsin Young Artists Compete: The Final Forte post-production will be done by PBS Wisconsin. The final production will presented online in the spring, and may also be broadcast.

RESULTS:

First place: Sophia Jiang, piano, was awarded the Marian Bolz Prize for Distinguished Musical Achievement and a $2,000 scholarship.
Second place: Dexter Mott, violin, was awarded the Steenbock Youth Music Award and a $2,000 scholarship.
Honorable Mentions: Carrie Wang, violin and Qing Ng, violin each received a $1,000 scholarship.

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 we anticipate 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 Education Assistant Lisa Kjentvet at lkjentvet@madisonsymphony.org with any questions.