Final Forte & Spring Young People’s Concert
by Rachel Cherian, Manager of Grants & Sponsorships
This week, the MSO will perform not one, but two annual concert traditions in service of young people around Wisconsin. On Wednesday, March 4, 2026, the MSO will present The Final Forte – the final round of the Bolz Young Artist Competition. The Final Forte is a free concert that is broadcast live, as a result of a historic partnership between the Madison Symphony Orchestra, PBS Wisconsin, and Wisconsin Public Radio. This year’s finalists are Lorenz Fradkin-Annen, violin, Cordelia Momo Fredrickson, violin, Zachary Lemke, marimba, and André Peck, piano. These four high school-aged musicians will compete to be named the winner of the Bolz Young Artist Competition. The first and second place winners will each receive a $2,000 scholarship and the Marian Bolz Prize for Distinguished Musical Achievement or the Steenbock Youth Music Award. Two Honorable Mention scholarships of $1,000 will also be awarded. These cash prizes are possible thanks to generous donors.
Then, on the morning of Thursday, March 5, the winner will have the opportunity to join the MSO on stage at Overture Hall to give a solo performance for more than 1,600 of their peers. The MSO, conducted by Kyle Knox, will also perform works by Shostakovich, Tchaikovsky, Copland, Bartók, and more for the audience of middle and high schoolers. This concert, also known as the Spring Young People’s Concert (SYPC), is an annual education program. Prior to attending the performance, school groups receive a custom-made curriculum guide to help guide the students’ understanding of the program. The MSO also creates a slideshow that is projected during the performance to guide listening. The concert is beloved by teachers and students alike. One chaperone at last year’s SYPC wrote, “We are so grateful for the work and planning that goes into making this an incredibly smooth and organized event. Today’s concert was a perfect, engaging, inspiring opportunity for my students, and one of our very favorite events of the year.” This program is possible thanks to several generous grants, sponsorships from individuals and companies, and donors to the MSO’s annual fund. The MSO is also thrilled to be able to provide bus subsidies to attending schools thanks to our phenomenal funders.
The MSO’s education programs are vital resources for area educators and help complement their classroom efforts and school curricula. Pre-performance educational materials, such as Curriculum Guides, slideshows, and playlists, help teachers and students achieve the Wisconsin Standards for Music. For many students, the MSO’s education concerts are their first experiences ever hearing a live symphony orchestra! If you are interested in learning more about the Final Forte, Spring Young People’s Concert, or about how you can specifically support the MSO’s education programs, please contact the MSO’s Development Department at 608-257-3734.