Congratulations to the 2025 Bolz Young Artist Competition finalists who will perform in ‘The Final Forte’

January 17, 2025 Tara Lovdahl Leave a Comment

The semi-final round of Madison Symphony Orchestra’s (MSO) 2025 Bolz Young Artist Competition took place on Jan. 9, 2025, and PBS Wisconsin would like to congratulate the four incredibly talented finalists headed to the finals at the Overture Center for the Arts.

Enjoy the exciting last round of competition live 7 p.m. Wednesday, Mar. 5, 2025, in Wisconsin Young Artists Compete: The Final Forte on PBS Wisconsin and Wisconsin Public Radio. The program will also be rebroadcast at 8 p.m. Friday, March 7 and 2 p.m. Saturday, March 8 on The Wisconsin Channel (PBS Wisconsin-2).

Congratulations to the 2025 Final Forte finalists:

Atticus Coen, a senior at Sun Prairie East High School who will play Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F, 1st movement. He began playing piano at the age of five and is currently in his eighth year of study with Lana Robotewskyj. Atticus was a senior recital winner at the Madison Area Music Educators Honors Festival and a recipient of the UW-Madison Summer Music Clinic Tuition Waiver Award.

Indre Raghavan, a junior at Middleton High School who will play Sibelius’ Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47, 1st movement. She has been playing violin since the age of seven and currently studies with professor Eugene Purdue. Indre was the winner of the 2025 Middleton Community Orchestra Young Artist Competition and was a semifinalist in the 2024 Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra Stars of Tomorrow Competition.

Vivian Van de Sype Cucu, a senior at University School of Milwaukee who will play Walton’s Viola Concerto, 1st movement. She studies viola with Davis King and is a scholarship fellow at the Music Institute of Chicago’s Academy. As a member of the Academy’s Elysian Quartet, Vivian won the gold medal, BIPOC Prize, and Audience Prize in the 2024 St. Paul String Quartet Competition.

Lucy Wu, a junior at Whitefish Bay High School who will play Dvořák’s Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104, 3rd movement. She began studying cello at the age of seven and is currently a student of Dr. Stefan Kartman. In 2024, Lucy received first prize in the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra Stars of Tomorrow Competition, the ENKOR International Music Competition and the DePaul National Concerto Competition.

In The Final Forte, these impressive young musicians will perform as soloists with the MSO, led by music director John DeMain.

Performing at this level takes years of preparation and dedication, and each of these musicians is already a winner. All students will receive a scholarship for completing this round of the competition, a huge accomplishment in itself. The level of skill demonstrated is truly remarkable, and to see the next generation of musicians performing alongside the MSO is inspiring.