The Final Forte

The 2021 Bolz Young Artist Competition was unlike anything else I have ever produced. Video auditions and masks created a barrier that was necessary and yet still so unfamiliar. But, despite this, our purpose was still the same — to celebrate the beauty of music and applaud the hard work, dedication and talent that is ever present among our young musicians. Indeed, the beauty of music has not gone anywhere — the same magnificent sounds of students who had perfected their art still rang through Overture Hall the night of the live final round. I hope students and audiences, alike, will be inspired by the competition this year, as I was. Sometimes, giving up so much of what we considered normal is a gift. We are able to see the value of the work we do and the real reasons we do it. Those real reasons are still with us — nothing can take that away. When we are all able to be together for an event in the future that looks like what we have remembered, something will be different: We will be able to cherish those things that are lasting and valuable that much more.  – Kathryn Schwarzmann

Throughout almost a year of the pandemic, music has been one of the biggest things that has given people faith and connected people around the globe. Whether it be singing on balconies, virtual orchestral performances, or concerts through screens, we have been able to share our appreciation for music. I hope that my performance of Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G Major is able to touch and inspire people as much as I have been inspired through this special time.

I am very excited to play in the Overture Center for the second time. It is an honor to perform with my sister, Jessica, in such a beautiful hall, along with playing a wonderful concerto! The Ravel piano concerto is a 20th century work that displays many genres of music, including blues and Neoclassicism, demonstrating how multiple types of music can be intertwined. While this is a very difficult concerto for both the soloist and the orchestra, it is extremely fun to play together. Someday, I really hope to play it with MSO and other orchestras.

While the entire world is in lockdown, I feel so lucky to be able to collaborate with my own sister in the same household. She helped make this concerto possible. Thanks to her, we can share this wonderful concerto with other people! We are so excited and can’t wait to play.

Even though I cannot play with the Madison Symphony at this time, I truly believe it will be a thrilling, unique adventure nonetheless. Thanks to the MSO for organizing this great event and giving young artists the opportunities, despite all the difficulties that we have been experiencing. Also, thank you to my piano teacher, Mr. Bill Lutes, and to the rest of my family.  – Sophia Jiang

Dexter Mott is a senior in high school dually enrolled at Robert M. LaFollette High School and Madison College in the Early College STEM Academy in Madison, WI. He studies violin with Eugene Purdue.

As a violinist, Dexter’s most outstanding accomplishments include performing  the “Violin Concerto in D Minor” by Jean Sibelius with the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras as a winner of their concerto competition in 2018, winning the Middleton Community Orchestra’s concerto competition in 2019, being a semi-finalist in both the Milwaukee Stars of Tomorrow and the Bolz Young Artist concerto competitions, and earning many honorable mentions. Other outstanding accomplishments include winning a University of Wisconsin Tuition Remission Scholarship, Interlochen Arts Camp Orchestral Scholarship and Interlochen Arts Award.

Dexter is a member of the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras where he performs with the Youth Orchestra and enjoys being a musical ambassador in the chamber music program. He also works as a peer tutor for advanced math at Madison College. When he is not tutoring, studying, or practicing the violin, Dexter enjoys playing the piano, reading, running, biking, fishing, and gaming. Dexter plans to pursue music in college in the Fall of 2021.

Carrie Wang, age 16, is a 11^th grader at Brookfield East High School. Carrie started violin study with Patrick Langer from the Wausau Conservatory of Music, and currently studies with Sang mee Lee at the Music Institute of Chicago Academy. She was the winner of Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra Senior Symphony concerto competition, and has received honorable mentions from Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra Stars of Tomorrow competition, DePaul Music Concerto Festival and Confucius Concerto Competition. She has performed for Sibbi Bernhardsson, Danielle Belen, and Glenn Dicterow.