YOUR STARTING POINT
Between two sparkling lakes in northwest Michigan, you’ll find an artist’s haven of unmatched possibilities. Every summer, students from all around the world come to Interlochen to learn and grow in an environment that catalyzes their creativity. Top arts instructors from today’s elite classical musicians to New York Times best-selling novelists gather on Interlochen’s campus to share their knowledge with the next generation of young artists.
When you come to Interlochen, you’ll be immersed in a beautiful natural environment filled with spirited performances, life-changing arts instruction, and opportunities to connect with like-minded friends. It’s a place where you’re free to turn your most exciting ideas into realities and break through your own perceptions of what’s possible. Interlochen Arts Camp isn’t just a place to improve your artistic abilities; it’s where you’ll grow personally and creatively. This summer is your starting point.
Interlochen Arts Camp? WHAT IS
Interlochen Arts Camp offers world-renowned summer arts programs for students in grades 3-12 in a wide range of artistic disciplines, including music, theatre, dance, visual arts, creative writing, interdisciplinary studies, and film.
This diversity allows students to delve deeply into their primary area of interest while being surrounded by other areas of creativity. Students have numerous opportunities to showcase their work through performances, readings, and exhibitions, providing them with real-world experiences and the chance to engage with live audiences.
You’ll meet like-minded peers from around the world in a collaborative community that encourages the exchange of ideas. You’ll create lasting friendships and find fresh inspiration while being surrounded by 1,200 acres of natural beauty. And you’ll work closely with faculty, staff, and guest artists who are the best in their artistic fields. It’s no wonder that our alumni call Interlochen “transformational.”
A SUMMER AT INTERLOCHEN WILL change your life
BECOME THE ARTIST YOU ARE MEANT TO BE
Do you feel most alive in the glare of the stage lights?
Do you find joy in performing your instrument or bringing your ideas to life through an original story?
Whether you have a passion for animation, a love for musical theatre, or an excitement about visual arts, you’ll find the perfect artistic experience at Interlochen Arts Camp.
Interlochen Arts Camp offers programs for students in grades 3-12.
• GRADES 3–6 TWO– AND FOUR–WEEK SESSIONS
• GRADES 6–12 THREE– AND SIX–WEEK SESSIONS
• GRADES 9–12 ONE–WEEK INTENSIVES
Artistic DISCIPLINES
• CLASSICAL INSTRUMENTAL, VOICE, PIANO, HARP, AND ORGAN
• COMPOSITION
• JAZZ
• POPULAR PERFORMANCE
• PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
• SINGER–SONGWRITER
Theatre
• ACTING
• DESIGN & PRODUCTION
• MUSICAL THEATRE
Visual Arts
• DRAWING
• COMICS & GRAPHIC NARRATIVES
• FASHION
• PAINTING
LEARN MORE
• CLASSICAL BALLET
• CONTEMPORARY
• HIP HOP
• ANIMATION
• FILM SCORING
• FILMMAKING
• SCREENWRITING
Interdisciplinary Arts
• ARTS EXPLORATION
WE CAN’T WAIT TO BE inspired BY you
WE CAN’T WAIT TO inspire you
Creative Writing
• CREATIVE WRITING
• NOVEL WRITING
• PERFORMANCE POETRY
• PLAYWRITING
ACTIVITIES
and Traditions
When you come to Interlochen, you become a part of a tradition extending back to 1928—and you join a vast alumni community that includes some of the world’s leading artists. Here are a few of the traditions you’ll experience and the activities you could enjoy as you make lifelong friends and explore the arts at Interlochen this summer.
MAKE LIFELONG friends
WITH CREATIVES WHO ARE JUST LIKE you
LEARN MORE
• Attend artistic performances by top young artists from around the world—including Broadway-style shows, film screenings, visual art exhibitions, poetry readings, fashion shows, and orchestral concerts featuring the world’s leading conductors.
• Let your creativity shine at Interlochen Idol, a lip-synch competition where you’ll team up with cabinmates to perform everything from chart-topping hits to classic showtunes.
• Enjoy special weekend activities like the Maddy Gras carnival, Top Chef cooking competitions, swimming and water sports in our two clear-water lakes, and more.
• Relax and spend time with new friends at weekly Cabin Nights while you enjoy hot-off-the-campfire treats like Dutch oven pizza.
• Watch (or participate in) the final piece of the summer, “Les Préludes.” In this unique multidisciplinary performance, the high school ensembles play Franz Liszt’s classic tone poem while dancers perform on the rooftop of the Interlochen Bowl—a tradition that’s endured since the Camp’s founding.
Those are the coordinates you’ll call home while you’re at Interlochen Arts Camp. Here in the northwest corner of Michigan’s lower peninsula, you’ll find stunningly blue skies, thick pine forests, and majestic sand dunes.
Interlochen’s campus is situated between Green Lake and Duck Lake, so you can take full advantage of outdoor activities like swimming and boating. Feeling competitive? Take to the field (or court) with a game of basketball, volleyball, Gaga ball, or soccer.
You might also enjoy a trip to Sleeping Bear Dunes for a sandy climb that leads to gorgeous views. Don’t be surprised if the beauty of nature makes its way into the music you compose or the poetry you write. Here at Interlochen, nature is the gateway to both fun and inspiration.
Go anywhere. START HERE.
Once you come to Arts Camp, you’ll leave with new skills, new friendships, and open doors to an incredible future. Arts Camp alumni go on to become musicians, dancers, actors, filmmakers, animators, writers, and artists. Here are just a few of our well-known alumni:
• Anthony McGill, principal clarinetist for the New York Philharmonic
• Janet Eilber, Artistic Director, Martha Graham Dance Company
• Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Academy Award-winning actress
• Vince Gilligan, Emmy Award-winning executive producer, Breaking Bad
• Josh Groban, multi-platinum-selling singer-songwriter
• Mary Oliver, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet
• Nathaniel Mary Quinn, painter
Beyond artistic growth, students at Interlochen develop important life skills like independence, self-discipline, and resilience. Your Interlochen experience will help you find your stride, no matter what path you choose.
A life-changing summer doesn’t have to be out of reach. Interlochen Arts Camp is committed to making its unique educational experiences accessible to talented students from diverse economic backgrounds, including both domestic and international students. We offer financial aid to assist families in covering the cost of attendance. Need-based scholarships are awarded based on the financial needs of the applicant’s family, and merit-based scholarships recognize exceptional artistic talent and potential as demonstrated in the audition or portfolio submission.
Interlochen Arts Camp!
Your application is a chance to display your passion for your art form. There’s no need to put pressure on yourself to be perfect—just share your best work to give us an idea of your potential.
Programs fill up quickly, so you’ll want to submit your application as soon as possible. Here’s how it works:
1. Go to INTERLOCHEN.ORG/APPLICATION and fill out our online application.
2. Select your PRIMARY and ALTERNATE PROGRAM choices. We’ll help find the right fit for you.
3. SUBMIT YOUR AUDITION OR PORTFOLIO, if required by your program.
HAVE QUESTIONS?
WE’RE HERE TO HELP.
admission@interlochen.org
231.276.7472 or 800.681.5912
SEPT. 1
Application opens JAN. 15 Priority application deadline MARCH 1
Admission decisions released for programs requiring an audition or portfolio.
Applications received after Jan. 15 will be considered on a rolling basis based on program availability.