In September, several young artists competed in our 2025 Topitzes Family Fall Youth Concerto Competition. Congratulations to Violinist Hayley Stevens, an 7th grader from Ezekiel Gillespie Middle School in Madison for winning first place!
Hayley will be performing Sarasate’s Zigeunerweisen with the Madison Symphony Orchestra during the Fall Youth Concerts on October 28, 2025, at 9:15 a.m., 11:15 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. in Overture Hall at the Overture Center for the Arts.
Two honorable mentions were awarded to Flutist Elisa Fowler and Violinist Jacob Martonito.
Hayley Stevens, Violin
Topitzes Family Fall Youth Concerto Competition Winner
Hayley Stevens, age 12, is a 7th-grade student at Ezekiel Gillespie Middle School in Madison. She began studying violin at age three with Kathryn Taylor at Suzuki Strings of Madison and is currently a student of Eugene Purdue. Hayley performs with the Philharmonia Orchestra of the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra and with Sonora Strings, the advanced touring ensemble of Suzuki Strings of Madison. She has received numerous honors for violin performance, including winning the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra’s Bach Double Competition (2023 and 2025), the Interlochen Arts Camp Junior Honors Recital Competition (2024), and the elementary division of the Black Youth Arts Matter Festival Competition (2023). In her spare time, Hayley also enjoys playing the cello and participating in gymnastics and musical theatre.