Interlochen Center For the Arts

THIS IS FOR VISITORS. Most of the reviews here are for and by music campers or arts high schools people. But this review is for casual visitors to the area. This is an exceptional venue – not just another «arts community» that smells like eucalyptus. During the summer, there are major artists performing (popular and classical) in the 3,000-seat outdoor Kresge auditorium. At the same time, there are student and faculty performances and recitals day in and day out in the indoor auditorium or many halls. The Academy orchestra is always a fine experience. Some of the faculty and students are the best in the world. The website mentions main events, but does not count the many student and faculty recitals that dot the calendar. Except for the usual school or summer camp breaks, there is something going on all the time. The theater, opera workshops, orchestra, band, choirs and ensembles will all give you shivers. And, who knows, you may see a world famous artist wandering about in casual dress. Over the years, I personally have shaken hands with Van Cliburn and Frederic Fennell (now deceased) and Ytschak Perlman.

The venue may be a bit rustic, but the entertainment is outstanding. Sophisticated art at its finest in a rustic setting is another way to say it. Our favorite entertainers are not appearing as frequently now, but still, some appear and the publicity dies hold our interest. Leave the politics at home though, or ignore the extremist nutjobs running around there sometimes, and you may have a nice, entertaining experience.

As an ex-​student of Inty Academy I have nothing to say about Interlochen Center for the Arts except that I heard all the past camp-​goers say it was absolutely phenomenal.
Just FYI: camp is totally different from the actual boarding high school academy so don’t be deceived.
Do your research about the teachers of your child’s major first before going head over heels about a completely different program.
Check out the Interlochen Arts Academy Unilocal

I spent 4 summers at Interlochen. I can’t say enough good things about it. I learned a lot, made great musical connections and lifelong friends. The Junior division is great for grade school kids who want to explore different interests in the arts and also kids who have shown an aptitude on an instrument. The Intermediate division is geared for middle school kids who have a reasonable proficiency on their instrument. And, the High School Division is comprised of mostly serious minded musicians. Not everyone who attends Interlochen end up majoring in music. Though, if you plan to major in music, Interlochen will help prepare you.

A performing arts high school during the school year, a performing arts camp in the summer time. They have two main performance venues, one is indoor the other outdoor. Throughout the year, but especially in the summer, they have big name performers and concerts that range from Willie Nelson, to Hall & Oates, to Nora Jones to Prairie Home Companion to Bela Fleck and the Flecktones. Really varied, and almost always in the outdoor venue. Harry Connick Jr. and Josh Groban were here this summer, to name a couple. On a hot day (An Evening with Harry Connick Jr. was over 90 degrees at 7:00 pm), you wish is was an indoor event, but on a gorgeous day (Josh had great weather), the outdoor venue is spectacular. It is on a lake and boats pull up to hear the concert from behind the stage, though they cannot see the stage and depending on where you are seated, you may or may not see the lake very well. The local high schools also have their graduation ceremonies here every year. Unless you arrive three hours before any scheduled event, plan on walking at least a quarter mile to the venue. Lots of people arrive early to tail gate before concerts, which is always a lot of fun. Wear comfortable walking shoes, leave the high heels at home, you may be walking across dirt or wood chip covered walk ways before you get onto the paved campus. Worth walking around the campus before the events, very cool! Lots of famous performers, including Nora Jones and Josh Groban and other have attend Blue Lake as campers when they were kids. Again, wear comfy footwear!

Long ago, Gorgeous Gluten-​free Girl attended the summer arts camp (dance), and we return from time to time. As wonderful as student concerts and recitals can be, Interlochen isn’t just a training ground. It’s also a concert venue for major performers. If you into RV camping, there’s a great campground just across the street.

Love love love this as a music venue. Have seen many stellar shows here and will continue to for the rest of my days. Kresge has fantastic sound and is such a beautfiul venue for a concert, especially when the back curtains are open and you get a view of the lake!

This review is for the ONE WEEK MUSICAL THEATRE INTENSIVE.
This camp was NOT an intensive. My daughter was bored all week. If your child has any previous dance, theatre and/​or musical experience, this may not be the camp for them… or you. The camp costs $ 1000 and was no where near worth the money. Consider something local in your area before traveling to this highly boastful arts school. The daily food was terrible, even tho they had a salad bar daily, it was often out of food. They even served left overs one day! The rustic cabins were hot and stuffy, bring your own fan! The lake was never visited by the campers. Voicing our concerns to the director of this program did not change anything and they were not willing to let us go home early with a refund of any kind.

Knickers, knee socks, and the highest-​quality music there is for high school and middle school kids. I was a camper for five summers and a lifeguard/​counselor for one. If you are in the area, it is definitely worth your time to stop by for a WYSO concert…

While I was a college student studying music in New Jersey, I was recruited by a friend on a whim to spend the summer as a counselor at Interlochen Arts Summer Camp. It was a very interesting and cool experience.
Interlochen is an amazing place to be, whether you are a student, teacher, counselor, performer or spectator. Interlochen is many things at once. It is:
*a performing arts center with many venues.
*a boarding school for high school for the fine and performing arts
*a fine and performing arts summer camp for school aged children from all around the world.
*a radio station
*a hotel and a gift shop and more… all nesteled in a beautifully wooded campus that has two lakes and bathing beaches.
Interlochen is a not a place for students with a casual interest in the arts. Particularly at the middle and high school level, the kids are hardcore serious about their studies. They have lots of fun, but the price tag at Interlochen makes it a very costly and exclusive experience. The boarding school is so expensive it is out of reach for many students, so the summer camp is the only taste many children get of Interlochen. If I could afford to send my children to Interlochen, I would do so without hesitation.
Performers from all genres grace the stages at Interlochen. The large open air stage at the center of campus is a really neat place to watch a concert. While I was there Yanni, kd Lang, the Monkees, James Galway and many others performed and I got to see them all as part of the job. It was so much fun working with the kids and enjoying beauty of the camp and all Interlochen had to offer.

HOLY MOLY!
Are you kidding me?
My life would be so incredibly different without the land of the stately pine. Many of my best friends were met here, some of my greatest and saddest memories are from here, and the seeds of my career were sown here as well.
R.I.P. basshut. We miss you.
If you have a kid who is into the arts at all, beg, borrow, or steal the money to send them to Interlochen next summer. Beware the Academy though. Your kids will experiment with same sex love, questionable fashion, and drop the fiddle after college to pursue a career in finance.
Sound the call, m*therf*cker!!!

I spent four awesome summers of my life here. I will never forget those summers. Every summer I think fondly of my time spent there. Ummm ah… one time at band camp… :)

The Interlochen Center for the Arts was founded as the National Music Camp by Joseph Maddy in 1927. The year before, he conducted the first National High School Orchestra and set about giving a summer home to the ensemble. Since then, the likes of Van Cliburn, John Phillip Sousa, Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Ella Fitzgerald, and many other great artists have joined the concert schedule. In the 60’s an arts high school, the Interlochen Academy, has made the Center an year around organization.
The center hosts the International Music Camp during the summer months, the Arts Academy during the year, and hosts concerts in its venues year around. WIAA is the NPR radio station run by the Center.
A true gem of the country and a cultural treasure of the Midwest.