Interlochen's six-week classical guitar program offers intensive training for the motivated classical guitar student. Students are offered a full array of guitar classes, ensemble coaching, and personalized instruction. Two showcase recitals will feature students' solo performances, chamber music, and large ensemble works. Guest faculty members including William Kanengiser and Stevan Jović have come to give masterclasses and recitals.
Private lessons are given for one hour each week. Topics covered in the private lessons include interpretation, technique, tone-production, repertoire, and effective practice strategies.
Guitar Ensemble is a daily class that includes work in small groups (duos, trios, quartets) and a guitar orchestra, emphasizing effective rehearsal and performance, collaborative interpretive skills, rhythmic integration, and sight-reading.
Classical Guitar History and Literature provides an historical survey of the guitar and lute from the 16th-century to the present day. The history will explore influential composers, repertoire, changing stylistic approaches, and the evolution of the instruments themselves.
Guitar Transcription takes a hands-on approach to learning about arranging for the guitar. Students will transcribe music from various sources, including Renaissance lute tabulature, J.S. Bach's solo cello music, Beethoven's string quartets, Chopin's Nocturnes for solo piano, among others.
Fingerboard Harmony applies the principles of Music Theory to the guitar fretboard. Topics of study include intervals, chords structures, and various scale patterns, including Major, harmonic minor, natural minor, melodic minor, whole-tone, octatonic, chromatic, etc.
Guitar Videos and Recordings is held in the Dendrinos Library listening lab to explore recordings by great guitar performers from the 20th-century to today. In this course the student will learn how to compare different performers' interpretation of the same work as well as develop a vocabulary for constructively criticizing a performance and/or interpretation.
Concerto Competition
Interlochen offers a separate concerto competition for High School and Intermediate divisions. Winners in the High School division will perform with one of the division’s orchestras or wind symphony. Concerto competition details >>
How to Apply
- Prepare the materials listed below.
- Complete the online application.
- Submit your audition materials online.
Required Materials
- Audio or video files #1 and #2: Choose two representative solo works of contrasting styles, demonstrating tone, technical facility and interpretation.
Additional Opportunities
Interlochen Arts Camp offers the following additional opportunities for guitarists:
Interlochen is also home to the Arts Academy boarding high school, which offers a major in guitar for grades 9-12, as well as a post-graduate year.
Faculty
William Kanengiser
Guest Masterclass Instructor (Guitar), Interlochen Arts Camp
Dr. Michael Kudirka
Instructor of Guitar, Interlochen Arts Academy and Interlochen Arts Camp
