PBS Wisconsin Music & Arts

I'm Jane Story.

I'm 15 years old.

I'm from Stevens Point, Wisconsin.

I've been playing violin for 11 years now.

My dad would take me to all the university orchestra concerts, and I liked the violin so much that I wanted to try it out.

It can be really melodic and it can also have very sharp articulation, and it just has such a wide range of sound that you can make.

I have five younger siblings and they all play violin.

We have all passed down the violins, so the ones I used to play, they now play.

I'm going to be performing douard Lalo's "Symphonie espagnole," movement I.

It has a very distinct Spanish flavor and it's very flashy, which I really love.

The opening is almost a cadenza in a way.

And, I also love the ending because it gets faster.

It's this rising climax that is extremely exciting to play and just thrilling.

My teacher is Dr. Anna Cromwell at the University of Wisconsin- Stevens Point.

I've been studying with her for about two and a half years now.

- Dr. Cromwell: Let's try it.

- We do fast finger work.

We do etudes and scales.

She really makes sure that I get exposed to all of the different techniques so that when I come across it in the repertoire, I'm prepared, and I can tackle those challenges easily.

- Dr. Cromwell: Beautiful!

I really enjoy musical theater.

I think it's really fun to have a different experience in the arts, and perform in a different way.

Jane (as Glinda): Are you a good witch, or a bad witch?

I'm currently rehearsing for The Wizard of Oz as Glinda.

Jane (as Glinda): Wherever you are... We've been rehearsing for about three weeks now.

I'm very excited.

Jane (as Glinda): The wicked old witch at last is dead.

It's been my dream to make it to the finals of the Bolz Young Artist Competition.

I actually went to see it in 2020 and it was incredibly inspiring to see the young musicians.

Studying music is amazing because you get to see yourself constantly grow and improve, and there's always something more you can learn.

I would love to spend the rest of my life doing music.