Young Artist
Competitions

The Final Forte

The Final Forte will be held Wednesday, March 13, 2019 at 6:45 p.m. in Overture Hall, Overture Center for the Arts

The Final Forte finalists are selected from a group of young Wisconsin artists who competed in the Bolz Young Artist Competition’s two preliminary rounds. The event gives these four artists the chance to perform a movement from a concerto with the MSO.

The Final Forte is a free concert broadcast live on Wisconsin Public Television (WPT) and Wisconsin Public Radio (WPR). This competition has captured an enormous following and numerous honors, including an Emmy nomination, First Place in the “Special Interest” category from the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association in 2007, and fifth most-watched program in the February 2007 Nielsen ratings. The 2008 WPT and WPR broadcasts reached more than 60,000 viewers and listeners in the Madison market alone and the 2009 broadcasts reached an estimated 200,000 statewide.

Reserve your free seats at the performance!

Congratulations to our 2019 Final Forte finalists!

Grace Kim, cello

Piece: Saint-Saens Concerto No. 1, Mvts. I & III
Parent(s): Moo-Young Kim and Anna Myeong
Age at Final Forte: 17 years
School: Waunakee Community High School
Grade: 11
Hometown: Waunakee

Monona Suzuki, violin

Piece: Ravel Tzigane
Parent(s): Miyako & Masatoshi Suzuki
Age at Final Forte: 16 years
School: Madison West High School
Grade: 10
Hometown: Fitchburg

Holly Venkitaswaran, flute

Piece: Borne Fantaisie brillante sur Carmen
Parent(s): Ellen and Ramesh Venkitaswaran
Age at Final Forte: 18 years
School: eAchieve Academy
Grade: 12
Hometown: Lisbon

Antonio Wu, piano

Piece: Rachmaninoff Concerto 2, Mvt. III
Parent(s): Shu-Ching Chuang & Cheng-Wei Wu
Age at Final Forte: 15 years
School: James Madison Memorial High School
Grade: 10
Hometown: Madison

…though I have competed nationally and internationally, nothing has surpassed the excitement and experience with the Madison Symphony Orchestra. I was called “an inspiration” and “a hero” by some of the kids I met from the audience, which were words that have inspired me to work even harder to continue to inspire and motivate other kids my age to strive for their goals as well.

– Julian Rhee, 2015 First Place Winner

It is an extraordinary opportunity for everyone to feel the commitment and energy of these young performers and to reflect on the central role the arts play in our lives. I look forward to these events with great joy

– John DeMain, MSO Music Director