FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 9, 2019 (updated February 19, 2020)
Wisconsin Young Artists Compete: The Final Forte
Bolz Young Artist Competition finalists perform and compete on Wednesday, February 26, 2020 — at a live broadcast concert event — free and open to the public! Artist interviews available for viewing, and rebroadcast dates announced.
Madison, Wis. – Join the Madison Symphony Orchestra (MSO), PBS Wisconsin and Wisconsin Public Radio for the 14th annual “Wisconsin Young Artists Compete: The Final Forte” on Wednesday, February 26, 2020 in Overture Hall.
This extraordinary event is an opportunity to experience the beauty of musical expression, the drama of competition and the inspiring tale of dreams come true as four gifted young artists vie for top honors in the final round of the 2020 Bolz Young Artist Competition. Broadcast from Overture Hall at the Overture Center for the Arts in Madison, the concert features the magnificent Madison Symphony Orchestra led by Associate Conductor Kyle Knox. The concert is free and open to the public. Audience members must register in advance, and arrive by 6:45 p.m. on Wednesday, February 26, prior to the beginning of the live broadcast.
The four finalists were chosen from ten competitors at the November 18, 2019 Bolz Young Artist Competition Semi-Finals for the opportunity to complete in The Final Forte. Each of the finalists will be performing the works they played at the Semi-Finals live with the Madison Symphony Orchestra. Jessica Jiang, will perform the first movement from Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3. Jonah Kartman, will perform the first moment from the Saint-Saëns Violin Concerto No 3. Emily Hauer will perform the first movement from Sibelius’ Violin Concerto in D minor. Pianist Michael Wu will perform Liszt’s Totentanz.
Videos for each finalist are now available for viewing online.
Jessica Jiang
Emily Hauer
Jonah Kartman
Michael Wu
Rebroadcast dates announced: The Wisconsin Channel (WPT-2).
Friday, March 6 at 8:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 7 at 3:00 p.m.
Thursday, March 12 at 3:00 a.m.
About the 2020 Bolz Young Artist Competition Finalists
Jessica Jiang is a junior at Madison Memorial High School. She took up the piano at the age of four and currently studies with Bill Lutes, Emeritus Professor at the UW-Madison School of Music. Jessica received the Steenbock Youth Music Award in the 2018 Bolz Young Artist Competition and took second place in Division III of the National Steinway & Sons Piano Competition in 2019.
Emily Hauer is a homeschooled senior from Appleton. She began violin lessons at the age of two and currently studies with Ilana Setapen, Associate Concertmaster of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. Emily won the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra Young Artist Concerto Competition in 2017 and is currently in her fourth year as the concertmaster of the Fox Valley Youth Symphony Orchestra.
Jonah Kartman is a homeschooled senior from Glendale. He has been playing violin for 13 years, and currently studies with I-Hao Lee at DePaul University’s School of Music. Jonah was a finalist in the 2019 Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra’s Audrey G. Baird Stars of Tomorrow competition, and a two-time winner and scholarship recipient in the Civic Music Association of Milwaukee Competition.
Michael Wu is a senior at Sun Prairie High School. He began piano lessons at age five, and currently studies with Bill Lutes, Emeritus Professor at the UW-Madison School of Music. Michael received the Steenbock Youth Music Award in the 2017 Bolz Young Artist Competition and took first place in Division III of the National Steinway & Sons Piano Competition in 2018.
The Final Forte Reservations: Wednesday, February 26, 2020
Doors open at 6:15 p.m. and close at 6:45 p.m. due to the live broadcast. The event runs until 8:30 p.m. No tickets will be issued. Seating is general admission in select areas of the hall.
The Final Forte is open to the public and free to attend, but reservations are required. Please reserve your seats to attend The Final Forte online at https://madisonsymphony.org/finalforte
ABOUT WISCONSIN YOUNG ARTISTS COMPETE: THE FINAL FORTE
The free concert is broadcast live on PBS Wisconsin and Wisconsin Public Radio. 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 broadcasts reached more than 60,000 viewers and listeners in the Madison market alone and the 2009 broadcasts reached an estimated 200,000 statewide.
ABOUT PBS WISCONSIN
Our mission is to boldly enrich, educate and entertain diverse audiences of children and adults through the innovative use of television production and broadcasting, other communication technologies and community engagement. PBS Wisconsin provides access to local and national content, extending its reach and impact in the communities we serve. Learn more: https://pbswisconsin.org/about/
ABOUT WPR
Wisconsin Public Radio is a civic and cultural resource that exists to enlighten and enrich the quality of life for its listeners. WPR consists of 37 radio stations programmed by seven regional studios and carrying programming on three content networks – the Ideas Network, the NPR News and Classical Network and the All Classical Network. WPR’s radio stations, studios, networks and online streams allow it to serve local, regional and statewide audiences with the highest quality programming available. Learn more: https://www.wpr.org/about-wpr
ABOUT THE MADISON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
The Madison Symphony Orchestra celebrates its 95th season in 2020–2021. The MSO has grown to be one of America’s leading regional orchestras, providing Madison and south-central Wisconsin with cultural and educational opportunities to interact with great masterworks and top-tier guest artists from around the world.
Wisconsin Young Artists Compete: The Final Forte concert and broadcasts are the result of a historic partnership with the Madison Symphony Orchestra, PBS Wisconsin, and Wisconsin Public Radio.
Wisconsin Young Artists Compete: The Final Forte is funded by major support from Diane Ballweg, Stephen Morton, W. Jerome Frautschi, A. Paul Jones Charitable Trust, Julie and Larry Midtbo, Fred and Mary Mohs, and Elizabeth Olson, with additional support from Bell Laboratories, James Dahlberg and Elsebet Lund, Kato Perlman, Cyrena and Lee Pondrom, Sentry Insurance Foundation, Darcy Kind and Marc Vitale, Dr. A. Beyer-Mears, Nick and Judith Topitzes, the Focus Fund for Young Performers, and Friends of PBS Wisconsin.
2020 The Final Forte finalist photos: http://bit.ly/2020finalfortephotos
CONTACT:
Peter Rodgers, Director of Marketing
Phone: (608) 260-8680 x226
Mobile: (415) 713-0235
Email: prodgers@madisonsymphony.org
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