PBS Wisconsin congratulates the four dedicated student musicians headed to the final round of Madison Symphony Orchestra’s (MSO) 2026 Bolz Young Artist Competition at the Overture Center for the Arts.

Witness the drama and excitement of the finals in Wisconsin Young Artists Compete: The Final Forte live at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 4, on WPR Music and pbswisconsin.org/final-forte.

Watch the broadcast premiere at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 17 on PBS Wisconsin.

The program will also be rebroadcast at:

• 12 p.m. Sunday, March 8, and 8 p.m. Monday, March 9, on WPR Music.
• 8 p.m. Friday, March 20, and 2 p.m. Saturday, March 21, on The Wisconsin Channel (PBS Wisconsin-2).
• 2 p.m. Saturday, April 4 on Milwaukee PBS (WMVT, Channel 36.1).

Congratulations to the 2026 Final Forte finalists:

Lorenz Fradkin-Annen, a sophomore at Oregon High School, will perform Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor, cadenza and movement IV. She began studying violin at the age of four and is currently a student of Eugene Purdue. In 2023, Lorenz received first prize in the MSO’s Fall Youth Concerto Competition and was named a finalist in the Interlochen Intermediate Concerto Competition.

Zachary Lemke, a junior at Oregon High School, will perform Keiko Abe’s Prism Rhapsody for Marimba and Orchestra. He began studying percussion at the age of 11 and is currently a student of Cindy Terhune. As a member of the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra, Zachary performed in Spain and Portugal and was also a member of the 2025 Wisconsin School Music Association Honors Orchestra.

Cordelia Momo Fredrickson, a senior at Wisconsin Virtual Academy, will perform Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 1, movement I. She began playing violin at the age of three and currently studies with professor Janet Sung. In 2024, Cordelia won first prize at the American International Music Competition and was named a semifinalist for the 2025 Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra Stars of Tomorrow Competition.

André Peck, a junior at Logan High School, will perform Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in D-flat major, Op. 10. He has been playing piano since the age of four and currently studies with Dr. Joseph Zins. André earned first prize in the 2024 La Crosse Rising Stars Concerto Competition and was named a finalist at the 2023 Nashville International Chopin Piano Competition.

More about the Bolz Young Artist Competition

The Bolz Young Artist Competition is a highly regarded statewide concerto competition in which Wisconsin high school musicians compete for the opportunity to perform as soloists with the MSO, led by music director John DeMain.

The four finalists each receive scholarships, ranging from $1,000 to $2,000, and the winner performs again the following day at the Spring Young People’s Concert.

2026 marks a triple milestone year for this musical event. It is MSO’s centennial, the 20th year of Wisconsin Young Artists Compete: The Final Forte and DeMain’s final season as MSO’s music director, a position he has held since 1994.

Photos by Dynae Allice Photography.