Select Program......... 45 North At Issue Chapter A Day® Classics w/ Norman Gilliland Classics By Request Grace Notes w/ Norman Gilliland Higher Ground-Jonathan Overby Joy Cardin Kathleen Dunn Larry Meiller Midday w/ Norman Gilliland Old Time Radio Drama Simply Folk Sunday Afternoon Live To The Best Of Our Knowledge University Of The Air Whad'Ya Know? Wisconsin Life Zorba Paster

Wisconsin Public Radio named eleven individuals and one ensemble as finalists for its Neale-Silva Young Artists' Competition, which recognizes outstanding young Wisconsin classical performers who demonstrate an exceptionally high level of artistry.

This year's competition was open to soloists, duos, trios, quartets or quintets who are between the ages of 17 and 26, and are residents of Wisconsin, or attend a Wisconsin college or university. All instrumentalists and vocal musicians entered by sending in a recording of their abilities.

The finalists, who were selected in a preliminary judging in February, auditioned before a three-judge panel on March 16 at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Those auditions determined which of the 2008 Wisconsin Public Radio/Neale-Silva Young Artists received a cash prize and the opportunity to perform on the winners' recital on Wednesday, April 30 in Madison.

The 2008 finalists were:

• Bassoon: David Wells (Madison) -- UW-Madison
• Clarinet: Brian Viliunas (Greendale, Milwaukee)
• Flute: Colleen White (Cedarburg) -- UW-Madison
• Flute & Percussion Duo:
  • Flute: Kristine Rominski (Woodville)
  • Percussion: Michael Mixtacki (Verona) -- UW-Madison
• Piano: Katelyn Bouska (Stoddard), Viterbo University-La Crosse
• Piano: Amy Lauters (Manhattan, KS) -- Lawrence University-Appleton
• Piano: William Martin (Flossmoor, IL) -- Lawrence University-Appleton
• Piano: Michael Smith (Davis, California) -- Lawrence University-Appleton
• Piano Duo: Paola Savvidou (Cyprus); Jonathan Kuuskoski (Wilmington, NC) --UW-Madison
• String Quartet:
  • violin: Danielle Simandl (Marquette, MI)
  • violin: Katie Ekberg (New Hope, MN)
  • viola: Sarah Bellmore (Sherwood)
  • cello: Max Hero (Wauwatosa) -- Lawrence University-Appleton
• Violin: Elizabeth Larson (Middleton) -- UW-Madison
• Violin: Danielle Simandl (Marquette, MI) -- Lawrence University
• Viola: Jacki Thering (Waunakee) -- UW-Oshkosh
• Voice-Lyric Coloratura Soprano: Janalyn Bump (Cambria) -- UW-Whitewater