Bolz Young Artist Competition Finals

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courtesy Madison Symphony Orchestra

2022 Bolz Young Artists Competition finalists (from left): Zak Chen, Jane Story, Ellen Zhou, Clark Snavely.

The Bolz Young Artist Competition is an annual Madison Symphony Orchestra event open to performers in grades 9-12. The preliminary and semi-final rounds returned to in-person performance and judging in January, and the four young musicians advancing from the semi-finals are all violinists: Zak Chen, Clark Snavely, Jane Story and Ellen Zhou. The Final Forte concert will feature each performing with the Madison Symphony Orchestra. Tickets to the in-person concert are free, but required; find information at madisonsymphony.org. The concert will also be broadcast live on PBS Wisconsin and Wisconsin Public Radio.

press release: All rounds of the Bolz Young Artist Competition were held in person this year! The Preliminary Round of the competition was held on Saturday, January 15, 2022 at Overture Center for the Arts. Judges for the Preliminary Round included musicians of the Madison Symphony Orchestra and local music experts. Eight semi-finalists were selected and announced by email the evening of the Preliminary Round.

The Semi-Final Round was held the evening of Thursday, January 27, at Overture Center for the Arts. All eight semi-finalists gave outstanding performances, and four were chosen to move on to the final round, The Final Forte, on April 13. Congratulations to all our competitors!

Bolz Young Artist Competition 2022 Finalists

Zak Chen, violin

Jane Story, violin

Ellen Zhou, violin

Clark Snavely, violin

Wisconsin Young Artists Compete: The Final Forte is a free concert that will be broadcast live on PBS Wisconsin and Wisconsin Public Radio on Wednesday, April 13. 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.

The Bolz Young Artist Competition is a highly-regarded statewide competition in which Wisconsin’s young musicians compete for scholarships and the opportunity to perform as soloists with the MSO. The competition is open to Wisconsin residents in grades 9-12. Previous winners may not compete in consecutive years on the same instrument. Contracted musicians of the MSO are ineligible.

The four semi-finalists compete in The Final Forte, which will be broadcast on PBS Wisconsin and Wisconsin Public Radio. Each winner receives a $2000 scholarship and the Marian Bolz Prize for Distinguished Musical Achievement or the Steenbock Youth Music Award. Up to two Honorable Mention scholarships of $1000 may also be awarded.