- My name is Lucy Wu.

I play the cello and I am a junior at Whitefish Bay High School.

[applause] - Announcer: And now Lucy Wu is taking the stage.

[orchestral music] - This is my second time in the Final Forte.

The first time with an orchestra is very daunting.

But after a while, you realize how everyone behind you is there to support you.

[orchestral music] I've gotten to play with three more orchestras since playing with the Madison Symphony: the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, the Chippewa Valley Symphony Orchestra, and the Oistrakh Symphony of Chicago.

My quartet at the Music Institute of Chicago's Academy had a very successful year and won many national titles.

I love chamber music because it is all about working in a team.

- Good, good, good, good.

- I will be playing the third movement of the Dvorák Cello Concerto.

This piece is definitely the most intense piece I've ever played.

I've really enjoyed learning how to approach that.

- Stefan Kartman: Here we go, boom!

- I've been studying with Dr. Stefan Kartman for over seven years, which is a long time.

I really enjoy studying with him.

I think he always has super inspiring ideas.

- Okay, you need to make us dream a little bit.

- Lucy: We go beyond playing the notes in tune and with good tone.

We go into what kind of story you want to tell with this.

- I can tell that you have a big task ahead, and that's exactly what you want at the beginning.

- Lucy: Although my parents aren't musicians, we all love music.

My sister is a violinist.

[sister laughing] She's very good.

[sister talking] - Oh, yeah, it's like, F C minus... My mom is a math professor, so I grew up under her instruction.

- What the interval is, right?

The interval is, in theory, AB.

- Lucy: Oh, yeah, yeah.

It's definitely helped me with math at school.

I started working at Mathnasium last September.

Hi, Ruby.

And I really enjoy it.

Let's do two more, then.

I primarily work with elementary school kids.

And they are just the sweetest people ever.

It's also very rewarding to witness their growth.

Oh, that's perfect.

[cello and piano music] I think music is all about storytelling.

The story with Dvorák third movement is definitely a great narrative of a hero's culmination of their journey.

I really enjoy playing it.

[ending note] [applause]