Overview
The Interlochen Summer High School Ensembles are the foremost training program in the world for young musicians. World-renowned conductors, teachers and guest artists create a program that emphasizes quality, personal growth, and the joy of playing with a group of superb musicians.
Ensembles
For any high school ensemble students can epect three hours of daily rehearsal including daily sectionals. There will also be two hours of small ensemble or chamber music each day. Wind and percussion players can satisfy this requirement in traditional chamber music groups or jazz band. Students will participate in weekly private lessons as well as regular scheduled practice time. One additional elective is available.
High School Orchestras
The World Youth Symphony Orchestra (watch video) and the Interlochen Philharmonic are the country's leading orchestral experiences for advanced high school students. The faculty is made up of preeminent instructors who have extensive experience with major symphony orchestras. Repertoire is chosen from traditional and contemporary masterpieces as well as other influential genres (world music, etc.). Under the direction of Jung Ho Pak, the orchestra programs regularly feature some of the greatest artists in the world - Yo-Yo Ma, Sarah Chang, Joshua Bell, Van Cliburn and many more.
Guest conductors for 2010 include JoAnn Falletta, Music Director of the Buffalo Philharmonic and Virginia Symphony Orchestra, and James Gaffigan, Associate Conductor of the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra and Music Director of City Music Cleveland. Guest artists include David Shifrin, clarinet, and Philippe Quint, violin.
High School Wind Ensembles
The World Youth Wind Symphony and the Interlochen Symphony Band are the most advanced high school summer band experiences available in the country. Ensemble rehearsals stress the technical, expressive and musical development of the individual within a collaborative setting.
The World Youth Wind Symphony and Interlochen Symphony Band have performed under the baton of many internationally renowned conductors, composers and artists including Frank Ticheli, Gary Green, Michael Haithcock, Karel Husa, H. Robert Reynolds, John Whitwell and Jerry Junkin. Alumni of the wind ensembles program have attended virtually every major university school of music and conservatory and currently enjoy careers as professional musicians around the globe.
Audition Information
String, wind and percussion applicants must submit audition materials with their application for admission. See the "Resources" section below for audition details for each instrument. All students will audition again during registration and will be placed into a specific ensemble group based on audition results.
Strings: Students will be placed in an orchestra based on the results of auditions during registration.
Winds and Percussion: Placement in either wind or orchestral ensembles will be determined based upon a student’s audition at the time of application. During registration, students will audition for seating within their assigned ensemble. Depending on repertoire requirements, percussionists may have the opportunity to play in both wind and orchestral ensembles.
Audition Requirements
The audition process is the same for orchestra and wind ensembles. Applicants should complete the following steps:
- Choose one movement from a piece from the audition repertoire list or choose a piece of comparable difficulty. Selections of contrasting style and piano accompaniment when appropriate are recommended. Percussionists should demonstrate skills on snare drum, mallet instruments and timpani.
- Choose one movement from an additional piece
- Prepare one major and one minor scale
- Record all pieces and scales on a CD or DVD (Helpful tip: place the microphone about six feet from your instrument.)
- Submit the audition and label the recording and its casing with the applicant's full name and presented repertoire. Students applying for Emerson Scholarships are encouraged to submit audition materials on DVD.
Concerto Competition
Each summer, Interlochen offers a separate concerto competition for the high school division. The competition is open to band, orchestra, piano and voice students. The concerto competition is highly competitive; only the most advanced students should enter. Winners will perform their concerto with the Interlochen Philharmonic.
The preliminary round of the concerto competition requires that an applicant submit a recorded video performance on DVD, (postmarked by May 7). Finalists will be selected and notified by June 11. The competition will take place during the first week of camp. Competition criteria will be posted on the Interlochen website in January.
Emerson Scholars Program
U.S. applicants are encouraged to apply for the Emerson Scholars Program, which offers talented high school musicians the opportunity for a full-tuition scholarship towards intensive study at Interlochen Arts Camp. Every year, Emerson scholarships are awarded to 52 students. Awards are based on the strength of a student's experience and audition. For more information and details on how to apply, click here.
New Elective in 2010: Advanced String Quartet
This program combines orchestral playing in the morning with intensive string quartet rehearsals and coaching in the afternoon. Students in this program will have individual practice time, special quartet performance opportunities and will participate in a recording project. Due to the intensity of the program, Advanced String Quartet elective students are not able to select additional electives. How to apply:
- Check the appropriate box under "Advanced String Quartet Elective" on your Application for Admission.
- Add "Advanced String Quartet" to the label on your audition recording.
- Include a short résumé listing your string quartet experience.
- Students applying for this program are encouraged to submit audition materials on DVD.
