PBS Wisconsin Music & Arts

Angela

On February 26th, four gifted young musicians will take center stage here at Overture Hall in Madison. They're vying for top honors in the Madison Symphony Orchestra's Bolz Young Artist Competition.

They are

violinist Emily Hauer, pianist Jessica Jiang, violinist Jonah Kartman, and pianist Michael Wu. You'll see them perform as part of our live broadcast,

Wisconsin Young Artists Compete

The Final Forte. But before they step into the spotlight, we've asked them to tell us a little about themselves... Their passion for music, and the journey that brought them here, to this stage. My name is Emily Hauer. I'm 17 years old and I'm from Appleton, Wisconsin. I am the fifth in my family, the youngest. The oldest is 34. And then I have Laura, and Paul, and Joe. He was actually a finalist of Bolz like nine years ago. They were my inspiration, and I kind of want to be more successful than them. So...

laughs

Wisconsin Young Artists Compete

My teacher is the amazing, wonderful Ilana Setapen. I love her. That's the melody, right?

Emily

She's just such a sweet person.

Ilana

And now you can do it. That's way better!

Emily

She really helped me interpret what the composer was feeling and thinking when he wrote his concerto. And she helps me to emote that through vibrato and bow control, and even a bit of stage presence, as well. I started my own string quartet. We'll play sometimes for wedding receptions, dinners. I think one year we did a whopping tour of seven nursing homes, and it was awesome! I felt like my quartet needed more bonding time. In a group like that, you need to become connected personally. So,

I thought

foosball. After we've gotten so fed up with a certain spot, then I'm like, "Okay, guys, break. "Let's go downstairs, let's beat each other up, "and go back upstairs and hit the problem again."

laughing

I love EDM

Electronic Dance Music. It is a great way to unwind. EDM is great! I definitely have dance parties in my room for my breaks from violin. You can vent lots of frustration. It's very helpful. I like it. I will be performing Sibelius' Violin Concerto in D minor, 1st movement. This concerto has lots of runs, lots of chords. It's got the fast notes, it's got slower sections. And it has all the colors and all the characters and all of that, but it's all mixed into one. You feel all the "feels" when you're playing it! I love performing. It's great! You learn a lot about yourself. You get to be with others. You get to be in public. I mean, I don't know. It's...it's what I enjoy doing.

applause