>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL PRODUCTION.

♪ >> THEY SHARE A LO LOVE OF MUSIC FOR EXCEPTIONAL YOUNG PERFORMERS, EAGER TO TAKE THE STAGE AND REALIZE THEIR DREAM.

THE MADISON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA UNDER JOHN DEMAIN WELCOMES THE FOUR FINALISTS TO OVERTURE HALL.

CORDELIA TP FREDRICKSON.

ANDRE PECK.

LORENZ FRA FRADKIN AANYONE.

ZACHARY LEMKE.

♪ [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THE FINAL FORTE, THE CULMINATION OF THE 2026 BOLZ KWH YOUNG ARTIST COMPETITION.

I'M LORI SKELTON, HOST OF AFTERNOON CLASSICS.

I'M CLINT WALZ FROM PBS WISCONSIN.

HISTORIC COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE MADISON SYMPHONY O ORCHESTRA AND PBS WISCONSIN TO CELEBRATE THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF YOUNG PERFORMERS.

HALL IN MADISON, FOUR TALENTED AND DEDICATED HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WILL COMPETE FOR TOP HONORS.

THE WINNER WILL RECEIVE THE MARION BOLZ PRIZE, A $3,000 SCHOLARSHIP.

$3,000 SCHOLARSHIP.

TWO HONORABLE MENTIONS OF $1,500 WILL BE AWARDED AS WELL.

>> TOMORROW'S FINALISTS EMERGED FROM A FIELD OF 39 STUDENTS WHO KCOMPETED IN JANUARY.

THEY ARE ANDRE PECK OF LA CROSSE.

VIOLINIST LORENZ FRADKIN-ANNEN OF OREGON.

ANDRE PECK AND ZACHARY LEMKE.

>> EACH WILL PERFORM UNDER THE BATON OF MUSICAL DIRECTOR JOHN DEMAIN CELEBRATING HIS 32nd SEASON WITH THE ORCHESTRA.

THAT DESERVES A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

YEAH.

[APPLAUSE] >> SO LET'S BEGIN TONIGHT'S COMPETITION WITH THE FIRST OF OUR FOUR FINALISTS, VIOLINIST CORDELIA MOMO FREDRICKSON.

>> I'M 17 AND A SENIOR AT THE WISCONSIN VIRTUAL ACADEMY.

I'VE BEEN PLAYING VIOLIN FOR 14 YEARS.

I STARTED WHEN I WAS THREE AND A HALF YEARS OLD.

I REALLY ENJOY THE COLLABORATIVE ASPECT THAT MUSIC HAS AND ALSO IT'S SUCH A NICE FEELING TO BE ABLE TO PLAY SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL THAT THE AUDIENCE WILL ALSO ENJOY.

>> MY VIOLIN TEACHER IS PROFESSOR JANET FROM D DE PAUL UNIVERSITY.

GOOD.

I LOVE THIS.

>> I'VE BEEN STUDYING WITH HERE FOR ABOUT SIX YEARS.

>> BECAUSE OF THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO ACTUALLY KEEP BUILDING YOUR ENERGY THROUGH, RIGHT?

>> I MET HER AT A MASTER CLASS.

>> THAT CREATES THIS KIND OF CHANGE OF ENERGY IN THE SOUND.

TRY.

>> SHE IS AN AMAZING TEACHER, A PERSON I ADMIRE A LOT.

♪ >> I WILL BE PERFORMING THE >> I WILL BE PERFORMING THE VIOLIN CONCERTO NO.

1, THE FIRST MOVEMENT.

SHE INTRODUCED ME TO THE IDEA OF PLAYING PROKOFIEV.

I FELT CONNECTED TO IT IMMEDIATELY.

THE BEGINNING IS A VERY DREAMY CHARACTER, ALMOST LIKE IT'S UP IN THE CLOUDS.

WHEN YOU KEEP MOVING FORWARD, IT BECOMES A BIT MORE LIKE AN EVIL LITTLE ELF.

I ENJOY TYING ALL OF THAT TOGETHER TO CREATE A STORY.

IT SOUNDS SO COOL.

I ENJOY BAKING AND SPENDING TIME WITH MY FAMILY.

SOMETIMES I WILL BAKE BY MYSELF, BUT I PREFER DOING IT WITH OTHER PEOPLE ESPECIALLY MY LITTLE SISTER CHARLOTTE.

I STARTED VOLUNTEERING AT THE MADISON CHILDREN'S MUSEUM.

I ENJOY SEEING THE DIFFERENT CREATIVE THINGS THAT THE LITTLE KIDS ARE MAKING AND I WANTED TO GIVE BACK TO THE PLACE THAT WAS MY FAVORITE PLACE TO PLAY AT WHEN I WAS YOUNGER.

I THINK BRINGING OUT THE MUSICALITY AND REALLY MAKING IT SO THAT THE AUDIENCE FEELS WHENT YOU ARE TRYING TO SHOW EVERYONE IS ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING BUT MOST ENJOYABLE PARTS OF PLAYING VIOLIN.

AND IT'S SUCH A GREAT FEELING WHEN YOU CAN PORTRAY WHAT YOU WANT TO THE AUDIENCE.

♪ [APPLAUSE] >> AND NOW CORDELIA MOMO FREDRICKSON IS TAKING THE STAGE.

FREDRICKSON IS TAKING THE STAGE.

>> CORDELIA WILL BE PERFORMING THE FIRST MOVEMENT OF PROKOFIEV NO.

1, A CONDUCTOR OF THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY.

IT WAS COMPOSED IN 1917.

♪♪ [APPLAUSE] [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> THAT WAS 17-YEAR-OLD CORDELIA >> THAT WAS 17-YEAR-OLD CORDELIA FIRST MOVEMENT OF SERGEI PROKOFIEV'S VIOLIN CONCERTO NO.

1.

CORDELIA IS THE FIRST OF FOUR COMPETITORS IN THIS FINAL ROUND OF THE 2026 BOLZ YOUNG ARTIST COMPETITION.

>> FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE BOLZ COMPETITION AS WELL AS OTHER MADISON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PERFORMANCES VISIT MADISONSYMPHONY.ORG.

MY NAME IS ZACH.

I'M A JUNIOR AT OREGON HIGH SCHOOL.

I'VE BEEN PLAYING PERCUSSION SINCE FIFTH GRADE, SO SEVEN YEARS NOW.

I ENJOY HAND DRUMMING A LOT.

I LIKE THE FEELING ON MY HANDS AFTER I'M DONE.

IT'S WHAT I DO TO, LIKE, WARM UP FOR MARIMBA.

GETS MY HANDS, LIKE, ACTIVATED.

I ALWAYS WANT TO PLAY SOMETHING HARDER, DO SOMETHING THAT WILL TAKE MY MUSICALITY UP A LEVEL.

I JOINED THE WYSO PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE IN SEVENTH GRADE, AND IT WAS PROBABLY THE BEST DECISION I MADE FOR MYSELF MUSICALLY.

OPENING FOR ME.

I'M LIKE, WHOA, YOU CAN DO A LOT OF REALLY COOL STUFF WITH I ALSO PLAY IN THE WYSO'S YOUTH ORCHESTRA.

EVERY TWO YEARS THEY DO AN INTERNATIONAL TOUR.

THE ONE LAST YEAR WAS SPAIN AND PORTUGAL, SO I WAS FORTUNATE IT WAS PROBABLY THE MOST WE GOT TO PLAY AT THESE AMAZING VENUES.

SOME WERE OUTDOORS IN FRONT OF THIS, LIKE, MASSIVE CATHEDRAL.

IT WAS -- IT WAS AWESOME.

AND THE FOOD THERE WAS SO GOOD.

IT WAS A LOT OF FUN.

I REALLY ENJOY HANGING OUT WITH MY FRIENDS.

THINGS LIKE PLAYING ROCK BAND OR STUFF LIKE THAT.

GUITAR HERO.

>> THERE YOU GO!

>> I WILL BE PLAYING KEIKO ABE'S “PRISM RHAPSODY.” I FIRST ENCOUNTERED THIS PIECE WHEN MY FRIEND ELLIOT PLAYED IT IN THE "FINAL FORTE" IN 2024.

AND I'M LIKE, “OH, I WANT TO DO I CAME TO MY PRIVATE TEACHER, CINDY, AND I'M LIKE, “CAN I DO THIS?” AND SHE WENT FOR IT.

I DIDN'T THINK SHE WAS GOING TO GO FOR IT, TO BE HONEST.

I THOUGHT SHE WAS GOING TO BE THAT'S WAY TOO HARD FOR YOU.” THERE'S SECTIONS WHERE YOU'RE PLAYING UNGODLY FAST, SECTIONS WHERE YOU'RE JUST LIKE, SUPER SLOW, METHODICAL AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN.

THERE'S TWO MALLETS, SIX MALLETS, FOUR MALLETS.

IT'S INGENIOUS, REALLY.

CINDY HAS AMAZING TEACHING TECHNIQUES.

>> YOUR PHRASING TODAY DEPENDS ON WHO YOU ARE TODAY.

>> WHEN I WAS STARTING TO BE ABLE TO PLAY IT UP TO TEMPO, AND SHE SAYS, “GREAT, NOW THAT YOU CAN DO THAT, I WANT YOU TO GO TO HALF TEMPO AND NOT PLAY PAST THAT FOR TWO WEEKS.” AND IT WAS SO EXCRUCIATING JUST TO DO THAT EVERY DAY.

BUT IT REALLY HELPED IN MY PERCUSSION RARELY GET SOLOS.

RARELY GET OPPORTUNITIES WHERE I THINK IT WILL FINALLY BE NICE WHERE I DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO PLAY QUIETER AND I GET TO BLEND WITH THE ORCHESTRA, MAKE SOME COOL MUSIC.

[APPLAUSE] >> ZACHARY LEMKE IS COMING ON >> ZACHARY LEMKE IS COMING ON STAGE NOW TO PERFORM KEIKO ABE'S PRISM RHAPSODY FOR MARIMBA AND ORCHESTRA.

>> KEIKO ABE IS A JAPANESE COMPOSER, TEACHER AND MARIMBA PLAYER AND ONE OF THE PRIMARY THE MODERN FIVE-OCTAVE CONCERT MARIMBA.

♪♪ [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> THAT WAS 17-YEAR-OLD ZACHARY PRISM RHAPSODY FOR MARIMBA AND IN ADDITION TO THE BOLZ YOUNG ARTIST COMPETITION, THE MADISON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA OFFERS A CONTEST FOR YOUNGER MUSICIANS AS >> INDEED THE FALL AOULGT CONCERTO COMPETITION IS OPEN TO GRADES 3 THROUGH 8.

THE WINNER GOES ON TO PERFORM WITH THE MADISON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.

TO HEAR FROM OUR THIRD COMPETITOR, VIOLINIST LORENZ FRADKIN AANYONE.

>> MY NAME IS LORENZ FRADKIN-ANNEN, I'M IN 10TH GRADE AND I GO TO OREGON HIGH SCHOOL.

I'VE BEEN PLAYING VIOLIN FOR AROUND 11-AND-A-HALF YEARS.

I PLAY VIOLA, BASSOON, AND PIANO.

PIANO IS MORE FUN BECAUSE THERE'S A WIDER VARIETY OF MUSIC THAT YOU CAN PLAY.

SOMETIMES I RECORD IDEAS I HAD EITHER ON MY PIANO OR ON MY VIOLIN, WHICH IS A GREAT STARTING POINT FOR ME.

I JUST OPEN UP NOTATION SOFTWARE AND JUST START MAKING SOMETHING; LIKE USE MY MIDI KEYBOARD AND THEN LAYERING STUFF ON TOP OF THAT.

I'VE BEEN INSPIRED BY VIDEO GAME MUSIC TO GET INTERESTED INTO DOING IT MYSELF.

A GREAT EXAMPLE OF IT WOULD BE THE "EARTHBOUND" SOUNDTRACK.

A LARGE NUMBER OF MY FRIENDS I'VE MADE THROUGH MUSIC-RELATED THINGS.

MAD FIDDLE IS A FIDDLE PROGRAM IN MADISON TAUGHT BY SHAUNCEY ALI.

WE'VE LEARNED ALL OF OUR STUFF BY EAR.

IN MY SCHOOL ORCHESTRA PROGRAM, I PLAY VIOLA, AND IN MY SCHOOL BAND, I PLAY BASSOON.

RIGHT NOW, I AM PLAYING VIOLA IN THE WISCONSIN YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AND IN THE PONDROM QUARTET AS WELL.

I'VE BEEN TAKING LESSONS FROM MR.

PERDUE FOR AROUND FIVE YEARS.

>> DO YOU THINK IT MEANS A SEPARATION OR JUST A STRESS?

>> HE'S GOOD AT TEACHING.

AND THEN ALSO HE HAS THE WEIRDEST STORIES EVER.

I'M GOING TO BE PLAYING THERE'S A LOT OF EXPRESSION IN IT.

I HAVE TO PUT MYSELF IN IT, SO IT DEFINITELY TAKES A LOT OF EFFORT.

PLAYING WITH THE MADISON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, IT'S SUCH AN HONOR.

I'VE PERFORMED WITH THEM BEFORE.

IT WAS REALLY REWARDING.

IT REALLY ADDED THE LAYERS AND, IT'S KIND OF OVERWHELMING, BUT I HAVE A LOT OF FUN.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SHARING MY PROGRESS AND PLAYING WITH AN ORCHESTRA AGAIN, WHICH IS ALWAYS [APPLAUSE] >> OUR THIRD COMPETITOR, >> OUR THIRD COMPETITOR, 15-YEAR-OLD LORENZ FRADKIN-ANNEN, IS NOW COMING ON STAGE.

>> SHE'S CHOSEN TO PERFORM THE CADENZA AND FOURTH MOVEMENT OF DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH'S VIOLIN CONCERTO NO.

1 IN A MINOR.

♪♪ [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> THAT WAS 15-YEAR OLD LORENZ >> THAT WAS 15-YEAR OLD LORENZ FRADKIN-ANNEN PERFORMING THE CADENZA AND FOURTH MOVEMENT OF DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH'S VIOLIN CONCERTO NO.

1 IN A MINOR.

>> BEFORE WE CONTINUE, WE'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO TELL YOU WHO WILL BE JUDGING TONIGHT'S COMPETITION.

ELENA ABEND IS A TEACHING PROFESSOR AND CHAIR OF PIANO STUDIES AT UW-MILWAUKEE'S PECK SCHOOL OF THE ARTS.

>> MARK DUPERE IS AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF MUSIC AND DIRECTOR OF ORCHESTRAL STUDIES AT LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY IN APPLETON.

>> AND DAWN WOHN IS AN ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF VIOLIN AT UW-MADISON'S MEAD WITTER SCHOOL OF MUSIC.

>> THE JUDGES TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION A RANGE OF PERFORMANCE CRITERIA INCLUDING: QUALITY AND CONSISTENCY OF TON•.

BALANCE AND BLEND WITH THE ORCHESTRA• MATURITY OF SOUND• TECHNIQUE• MUSICALITY & INTERPRETATION• AND STAGE PRESENCE.

>> NEXT, WE HAVE TONIGHT'S FINAL COMPETITOR, PIANIST ANDRÉ PECK.

>> I'M ANDRÉ PECK, I'M A PIANIST FROM LA CROSSE, AND I'LL BE PLAYING PROKOFIEV'S PIANO CONCERTO NO.

1, OPUS 10, IN D-FLAT MAJOR.

MY MIDDLE NAME IS “PREVIN,” SO MY FULL NAME IS ANDRÉ PREVIN PECK, AND I AM A DESCENDANT OF THE PREVIN FAMILY.

ANDRE PREVIN, OF COURSE, WAS THE EXTREMELY FAMOUS CONDUCTOR AND PIANIST.

I'M MORE DIRECTLY RELATED TO CHARLES PREVIN.

HE WAS A FILM COMPOSER - WON AN OSCAR AND WAS NOMINATED FOR A LOT OF AWARDS.

PROKOFIEV WAS DIFFERENT, AND THERE IS A LOT MORE DISSONANCE.

AND THERE'S NEW IDEAS THAT SPARKED BECAUSE OF HIS MUSIC.

HE WANTED THE MUSIC TO REFLECT THE IDEAS THAT HE WAS SEEING IN SOCIETY.

AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS REALLY FITTING RIGHT NOW BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE LIVE IN A TIME WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF STRIFE EVERYWHERE AND IT'S KIND OF IMPORTANT TO HAVE YOUR OWN VOICE.

WE STARTED TAKING LESSONS IN ST.

PAUL, MINNESOTA.

MY TEACHER IS DR.

JOSEPH ZINS.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THAT'S RIGHT.

VERY GOOD.

>> HE'S GREAT.

I THINK HE'S ONE OF THE MOST DOWN-TO-EARTH PEOPLE THAT I HE HAS THESE OLD-SCHOOL TENDENCIES THAT ARE PART OF HIS CHARM, BUT ALSO, FOR ME, THEY KIND OF REFLECT THE PINNACLE OF >> THERE IT IS.

YEAH.

YEAH.

>> IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE A TEACHER THAT BOTH UNDERSTANDS YOU AND CAN COMMUNICATE WITH YOU BUT ALSO HAS THE MUSICAL VALUES THAT I HAVE, AS WELL.

JAZZ BAND HAS ALWAYS BEEN KIND OF A FUN THING FOR ME, BECAUSE OFTENTIMES VERY LONELY.

WHEN I GET TO ENJOY MY MUSIC WITH OTHER PEOPLE, IT'S MORE OF AN EXCITING EXPERIENCE FOR ME.

[TALKING AND SNAPPING FINGERS] >> ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR.

>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT SOME STRUCTURES THAT ARE IN JAZZ, AND THEN YOU COMPARE THEM TO THE STRUCTURES IN CLASSICAL, AND OTHER.

EVERY SINGLE NOTE IN PROKOFIEV HAS A PURPOSE.

AND THAT'S KIND OF BEEN THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR ME TO TRY TO DISCOVER WHEN I'M PLAYING.

AND I REALLY THINK THAT IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO FIND MUSIC'S CONNECTION WITH ONE'S SELF.

WHEN I ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING ON THE PIANO, IT HELPS ME IN OTHER PARTS OF MY LIFE.

YOU HAVE TO PUT ALL OF YOUR HEART AND SOUL INTO BEING A MUSICIAN.

♪ [APPLAUSE] >> ANDRÉ PECK IS COMING ON STAGE >> ANDRÉ PECK IS COMING ON STAGE NOW WITH MAESTRO JOHN DEMAIN.

ANDRÉ WILL PERFORM SERGEI PROKOFIEV'S PIANO CONCERTO NO.

1 IN D-FLAT MAJOR, OPUS 10.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> THAT WAS ONLY FINAL COMPETITOR OF THE EVENING.

16-YEAR-OLD ANDRÉ PECK.

HOW ABOUT ANOTHER ROUND OF GIFTED YOUNG PERFORMERS!

>> AS WE CELEBRATE THE 20TH YEAR OF THE "FINAL FORTE," WE'RE SO HAPPY TO WELCOME BACK TWO FORMER WINNERS WHO ARE WITH US TONIGHT.

ONE OF THOSE IS OUR 2014 WINNER VIOLINIST DAVID CAO.

TWELVE YEARS LATER, DAVID IS NOW DR.

CAO, A 2025 GRADUATE OF THE MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN AND A RESIDENT PHYSICIAN IN MILWAUKEE.

[APPLAUSE] >> AND SOMEHOW, HE STILL FINDS TIME TO PERFORM WITH BOTH THE KENOSHA AND RACINE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRAS.

DR.

DAVID CAO!

[APPLAUSE] >> AND BEHIND DAVID, WE HAVE ANOTHER VIOLINIST, JULIAN RHEE, IN BOTH 2015 AND 2017.

THE MADISON SYMPHONY FOR ITS JULIAN HAS SOLOED WITH ORCHESTRAS ACROSS NORTH AMERICA, PERFORMING ON THIS STAGE WITH THE MADISON SYMPHONY FOR ITS CENTENNIAL FESTIVAL WEEKEND THIS JUNE.

WELCOME BACK, JULIAN.

[APPLAUSE] >> AND NOW PLEASE WELCOME BACK >> AND NOW PLEASE WELCOME BACK TO THE STAGE MAESTRO JOHN DEMAIN.

[APPLAUSE] >> CONGRATULATIONS, MAESTRO.

SO, TELL US, WHEN YOU HEAR FROM OR EVEN TALK TO PAST FINALISTS, HOW DOES IT MAKE YOU FEEL TO SEE WHERE ALL THAT TALENT AND PASSION AND DETERMINATION HAS TAKEN THEM?

>> WELL, I MEAN, IT'S SO EXCITING.

IN JULIAN'S CASE HE'S PURSUING A PERFORMING CAREER, QUEEN ELIZABETH COMPETITION, HAVING A FIRST-RATE CAREER.

DAVID, I DIDN'T CONDUCT THAT CLASS.

I THINK IT WAS JAMES SMITH BACK IN 2014.

BUT SO MANY OF THE WINNERS THEY TAKE DOUBLE MAJORS.

SOME PLAN ON GOING ON IN MUSIC.

BUT WHETHER IT'S A FULL-TIME PROFESSION OR WHETHER IT'S A PART-TIME PASSION THAT'S AN AVOCATION IT WILL BE PART OF THEIR LIVES.

EVEN TO PLAY IN REGIONAL ORCHESTRAS YOU HAVE TO GET PAST AUDITIONS AND OF COURSE THIS GIVES THEM A HEADSTART.

>> JUST A LITTLE BIT OF AN ADVANTAGE.

WHAT WILL THE ORCHESTRA BE PERFORMING?

>> THE LAST TWO VARIATIONS FROM TCHAIKOVSKY'S MOVEMENT.

>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MAESTRO JOHN DEMAIN AND THE MADISON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, SUITE NO.

3 IN G.

♪♪ [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> MAESTRO JOHN DEMAIN AND THE MADISON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, WITH THE FINALE OF PETER ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY'S SUITE NO.

3 IN G MAJOR.

AND NOW, THE MOMENT WE'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR.

COULD I ASK MAESTRO DEMAIN AND ALL FOUR OF OUR COM PES TORS TO JOIN US HERE ON STAGE.

[APPLAUSE] >> BEFORE WE PRESENT THE AWARDS, WE FIRST WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE FACT THAT ALL FOUR OF THESE INCREDIBLY TALENTED YOUNG ARTISTS ARE TRULY DESERVING OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO PERFORM HERE TONIGHT WITH THE MADISON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> SO, STARTING WITH THE TWO HONORABLE MENTIONS, WE HAVE: CORDELIA FREDRICKSON.

[APPLAUSE] >> AND ZACHARY LEMKE.

[APPLAUSE] >> OUR SECOND PLACE WINNER TONIGHT IS LORENZ FRADKIN-ANNEN.

TONIGHT IS LORENZ FRADKIN-ANNEN.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> WHICH MEANS ANDRÉ PECK HAS TAKEN FIRST PLACE FOR THE 2026 BOLZ YOUNG ARTIST COMPETITION!

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL FOUR OF OUR FINALISTS ALONG WITH MAESTRO JOHN DEMAIN AND OF COURSE THE MADISON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.

[APPLAUSE] >> A WARM AND HEARTFELT THANK YOU TO OUR LOVELY AUDIENCE TONIGHT, AS WELL AS ALL OF THOSE WHO TUNED IN TO THE BROADCAST OR WATCHED ONLINE.

FROM OVERTURE HALL IN MADISON, I'M LORI SKELTON.

>> AND I'M CLINT WALZ.

GOODNIGHT.

>> GOOD NIGHT.

[APPLAUSE] ♪♪ MAJOR FUNDING FOR “WISCONSIN YOUNG ARTISTS COMPETE: THE FINAL FORTE” WAS PROVIDED BY: W. JEROME FRAUTSCHI• DIANE BALLWEG• THE STANLEY AND SHIRLEY INHORN FUND• BARBARA AND NORM BERVEN• ELIZABETH OLSON• DR.

ANNETTE BEYER-MEARS• JAMES DAHLBERG AND ELSEBET LUN•.

WITH ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM: SONYA BEUTLER SAUER• JULIE AND LARRY MIDTBO• KATO PERLMAN• CYRENA AND LEE PONDROM• SENTRY INSURANCE FOUNDATION• DARCY KIND AND MARC VITALE• WILLIAM C. HOULIHAN AND MARY S. GERBIG• NICK AND JUDITH TOPITZES• JIM AND JESSICA YEHLE• THE CHILDREN OF MARIAN & JACK BOLZ AND ANNE & BOB BOLZ, IN MEMORY OF THEIR PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS, EUGENIE AND ADOLPH BOLZ• DONORS TO THE FOCUS FUND FOR THE ARTS• AND FRIENDS OF PBS WISCONSIN.

♪♪