Adapting to a different tempo without missing a beat

As Interlochen adjusts to the COVID-19 world, inspiring artistic growth and supporting students remain our top priority.

A tubist smiles during a master class with Richard White

An Arts Academy student participates in a master class with tubist Richard White.

The strength of our community and the enduring partnerships that have sustained Interlochen through 92 years of innovation in arts education are evident during these unprecedented times. You can be proud of the way Academy students, faculty, and staff have transitioned and united online without sacrificing Interlochen’s educational or artistic values. As social distancing pulls us apart, the arts continue to bring us together.

Festival, the end of year event celebrating Interlochen Arts Academy students’ artistic achievement and excellence, will occur in a virtual format—as will Honors Convocation and Commencement.

In late June, Camp 2020 will become Interlochen Online. Already, over 700 students have signed on as more continue to register for this new and high-impact experience. The planning for Camp’s grand traditions like First Gathering, Collage, and “Les Préludes” is currently underway.

In dozens of conversations with Interlochen supporters in recent weeks, the most common refrain is “how can I help?

You can support the next generation of young artists seeking the transformative Interlochen experience—and the faculty and staff who support these students—through your gift to the Annual Fund.

The hunger for creativity has only increased during this time. For instance, our Academy percussion students are applying themselves to new projects that are outside the normal flow of work. In just the last few weeks, they created individual soundtracks to silent films and created their own unique interpretations of pieces that have open instrumentation. This thoughtful and exciting work is just one example of what’s happening across all of Interlochen’s artistic disciplines right now that is fueled by your support.

Unfortunately, many current and prospective students are questioning whether they can afford the life-changing Interlochen experience this summer and next year. The loss of a parent’s job can derail a student’s academic and artistic ambition, and thwart emerging artists of remarkable potential. As such, there is an unprecedented need for scholarship support for students.

A group of leadership donors has banded together to create a matching fund that will help us provide the financial support students need. When you make your gift of up to $2,500 to the Annual Fund, it will be matched dollar-for-dollar by our leadership donors up to a total of $200,000. Your gift will make a profound impact on a young artist—who we’ll turn to for inspiration in the future—and on Interlochen's ability in this challenging time to retain the faculty and staff who support these young artists.

Your gift, of any size, to the Interlochen Annual Fund can sustain the dream of an aspiring artist.

We look forward to the return of the Interlochen community to campus. In the meantime, with your support, the proud traditions that define Interlochen and the experiences that shape lives will continue in new ways.

A special provision of the CARES Act allows donors to reduce their income by up to $300 through charitable gifts. To make a gift, visit interlochen.org/give. For more information, contact the Advancement Office at 231.276.7623.

A soundtrack to "The Haunted Castle" by George Méliés written by Arts Academy percussion student Sam Weaver.