On Sunday, January 13, eight young musicians competed in the semi-final round of the Bolz Young Artist Competition. Four were chosen to move onto the final round of the competition, The Final Forte, which will be broadcast live on Wisconsin Public Television and Wisconsin Public Radio on Wednesday, March 14.
The Final Forte is open to the public and free to attend, but reservations are required. Click here to learn more and RSVP to attend.
Meet our Judges
Myung Hee Chung, Professor of Piano, UW-Whitewater
Katherine Steele Young, Principal Oboe, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra
Benjamin Whitcomb, Professor of Cello, UW-Whitewater
Bernard Zinck, Professor of Violin, UW-Milwaukee
Meet our Finalists
Watch video profiles of each finalist
Videos produced by Wisconsin Public Television
Grace Kim, Cello
Age: 17
Playing: Saint-Saens Concerto No. 1, Mvts. I & III
Grace Kim is a junior at Waunakee Community High School. She took up the cello at the age of ten and currently studies with Uri Vardi, Professor of Cello at the UW-Madison School of Music. Grace received top honors in the 2018 Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition and was a semi-finalist in the La Crosse Rising Stars Concerto Competition in January 2019.
Monona Suzuki, Violin
Age: 16
Playing: Ravel Tzigane
Monona Suzuki is a sophomore at Madison West High School. She began violin lessons at the age of three and currently studies with Eugene Purdue, Adjunct Professor of Strings at the UW-Madison School of Music. Monona was the grand prize winner of the 2018 Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra Stars of Tomorrow Competition, and runner-up in the 2019 Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra Young Artist Concerto Competition.
Holly Venkitaswaran, Flute
Age: 18
Playing: Borne Fantaisie brillante sur Carmen
Holly Venkitaswaran is an e-Achieve Academy senior from Lisbon. She has been playing flute for 12 years and currently studies with Hideko Amano, Adjunct Professor of Flute at Carthage College. Holly earned first place at the Kenosha Symphony Youth Concerto Competition in 2018, and second place in the 2019 Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra Senior Symphony Concerto Competition.
Antonio Wu, Piano
Age: 15
Playing: Rachmaninoff Concerto 2, Mvt. III
Antonio Wu is a sophomore at James Madison Memorial High School. He began piano lessons at age five and has studied for the last ten years with Shu-Ching Chuang. Antonio took first place in both the 2016 Madison Symphony Orchestra Youth Concerto Competition and the 2017 Chopin Youth Piano Competition, and was selected as one of four finalists in the 2019 La Crosse Rising Stars Concerto Competition.