This Special Edition of Provost News reflects upon many of the wonderful achievements you have had this semester and the progress we’ve made together as a community.
Congratulations on an amazing year! Your work this year has been spectacular, and I have thoroughly enjoyed watching your growth. I am proud of all of you! This Special Edition of Provost News reflects upon many of the wonderful achievements you have had this semester and the progress we’ve made together as a community.
A top highlight of this semester was our world-premiere production of Edmonia. This multi-year project was a massive interdisciplinary undertaking, featuring students from all seven arts divisions. The pre-show lobby included creations from our visual artists and creative writers. On stage were our actors, dancers, singers, filmmakers, interdisciplinary artists, and many others. In the pit, was our amazing Academy Orchestra. The event was absolutely spectacular, and I was incredibly proud of the work. You can revisit the experience by watching therecording here (password: EDMONIA).
Photos: The Edmonia World-Premiere presented in Corson Auditorium in May.
The Greenacres film project has continued to take shape. Student filmmakers traveled across our region to get a first-hand look at regenerative agriculture, record interviews, and explore the Greenacres Foundation’s research. Students traveled to Idlewild, MI, to participate in our first biological blitz (a period of time where you document as many species as possible). They documented over 100 different species! The project will continue throughout next year, and the final film will be screened at film festivals and on campus.
Our senior class had remarkable success this year with college acceptances! Four seniors attained finalist standing in the National Merit Scholarship program: Paige Cook, Arin Goldstein, Avrom Lindner, and William Simpfendorfer.
Christian Trimmingham was named a Presidential Scholar in the Arts. This is one of the country’s highest honors for high school seniors!
We’ve seen some wonderful campus improvements this year. The M.B. windows and front entrance doors were replaced, and windows were updated in Picasso, Hemingway, and TJ. Picasso and Hemingway lounges also have new furniture and finish upgrades. And MB has a new studio space! This is all thanks to our dedicated Facilities and Maintenance teams, and our generous donors.
Our Student Representative Board had a variety of accomplishments this year including partnering with dining services staff and leaders to enhance our cafeteria experience, promoting sustainability, improving student life, strengthening our support systems, and more!
ACADEMICS AND ADVISORY
Our Academic programs have done wonderful work both inside and outside the classroom. Interlochen was proudly represented by 19 students at the Michigan Youth in Government event and received impressive accolades. The mock trial team made Youth in Government history by reaching the finals as a first-year team! Students also attended the Quiz Bowl State Finals in East Lansing, hiked Sleeping Bear Dunes, and visited the Holocaust Memorial Center.
Slam Poet Andre Bradford spoke at our Community Meeting and performed with students at our MLK Day Celebration. Deb JJ Lee, author of our community read In Limbo, joined us for our Community Meeting. They also spoke in History classes, and worked with Visual Arts and Creative Writing students.
As part of our Earth Day celebration, Advisory groups participated in a seedling planting activity. With the help of Ecology students, each Advisory group potted seedlings that will be planted on our campus next fall, and enjoyed for generations to come.
Photo: Earth Day seedling planting
CREATIVE WRITING
Creative Writing students participated in the Traverse City Opera House Verse and Stage performance in April. Students performed their own spoken word, poetry, dramatic monologues, and playwriting scenes for our local community.
Creative Writing students published two issues of the Red Wheelbarrow and hosted launch readings in February and May. Senior Creative Writing majors performed their work in the Chapel at the Senior Reading Recital.
The Our Poetry: Imagined Audiences class (taught by visiting writer Anne Malin Ringwalt) produced a magazine of student writing in collaboration with Tabloid Press out of Berlin, Germany.
The Creative Writing department also launched The Interlochen Review 2024. This annual online literary journal is edited by Creative Writing and Visual Arts students, and features writing, songs, and visual artwork from high school students around the world.
DANCE
Dance students performed The Sleeping Beauty with the Traverse Symphony Orchestra. The performance aired on Detroit Public Television and toured to the Great Lakes Center for the Arts. The ballet featured historical costumes, some of which were first worn at Interlochen’s visit to the White House in 1962.
The Choreographers and Composers performance featured newly created student choreography with composed works by Academy music students.
FILM AND NEW MEDIA
Jedo’s Dead, the first film created by the Cinema Collective (produced by faculty, alumni, and current students) is now making waves at prestigious film festivals. The film premiered at SXSW 2024. Eight Academy students attended the premiere, and spent 6 days attending the festival events.
Photo: Film & New Media students Sarah Wang, Ellen Denzin, and Meredith Farnsley at SXSW.
Animation students created the short film Interlochen Animators for Peace. The film was inspired by Russian animators who produced work to speak out against the war in Ukraine.
Photo: A still frame from Interlochen Animators for Peace
Animation students also collaborated with local children to crowdsource an animated music video. With music by Courtney Kaiser-Sandler and Benjamin Cartel, Academy students worked with 43 local children to animate and direct this heartfelt piece.
INTERDISCIPLINARY ARTS
Interdisciplinary Arts students produced 4 open mic shows, featuring dozens of acts from students in Singer-Songwriting, Creative Writing, and Interdisciplinary Arts.
Interdisciplinary Arts students also presented their Annual Projects with original work in composition, dance, film, music, poetry and spoken word, and visual and installation art.
Photo: Interdisciplinary Arts Annual Projects, May 2024
MUSIC
Iconic American composer Joan Tower worked with Composition, Piano, and Wind Symphony students in masterclasses, seminars, and coachings. The Composers Forum in April included multidisciplinary collaborations with both Music and Dance students.
The Guitar Ensemble presented several concerts on and off-campus including presentations at Cordia, the Alluvian, the Blue Lantern Tea Room in Leland, MI, and the Sound Community Series in Midland, MI. The Guitar Studio collaborated on a performance titled “Guitar Magic” alongside the Wind Symphony, and played a mix of repertoire at the Guitar Studio Recital.
The Interlochen Jazz Orchestra won First Place at the Jazz at Lincoln Center Essentially Ellington Regional Competition in East Lansing. The group also took home six other ensemble/solo awards. In April, the group played alongside jazz bass extraordinaire Rodney Whitaker.
Photo: Jazz Orchestra attends Jazz at Lincoln Center Essentially Ellington Regional Competition
Music Production & Engineering students took a week-long trip to Los Angeles, spending time in some of the most iconic recording studios in the world and speaking to leading industry experts. On campus, students also produced three well-attended Boiler Room dances.
Photo: Sam Erulkar listening to one of his songs in the control room of The Village Recorders Studio B, Los Angeles, CA
The Orchestraperformed the World Premiere of Mary D. Watkins’ The People's Awakening with Guest Conductor Robert W. Boardman. This piece was co-commissioned by Interlochen and Juilliard Pre-College.
Piano students toured to the Gilmore Piano Festival. During the trip they attended performances, and performed at the Carnegie Center for the Arts, and at senior living facilities.
The Interlochen Percussion Ensembleperformed Gerard Grisey's masterwork Le Noir de l'Étoile alongside alumni and guest artists Clara Warnaar and Ross Karre. The Oberlin Percussion Group (consisting of all Interlochen alumni) also performed with students on this hour-long and rarely performed piece.
Singer-Songwriters performed at the City Opera House in February. Several Singer-Songwriter students also toured with Music Production & Engineering students to Los Angeles. Eliza Prymak, Audrey Mason, and Lucy Letscher toured across the Midwest opening for Popular Music Program Director Joshua Davis at five different venues — three in Wisconsin, one in Chicago, and one in Michigan.
Voice students performed a concert featuring Christine Goerke, Nathalie Doucet, and the Resident Artists of the Detroit Opera. In February, the Academy Choir performed a powerful and inspiring concert entitled “You Are Enough.” Voice students were also featured in the Edmonia world premiere.
The Wind Symphony collaborated on a deep exploration of how we process sights and sounds both as musicians and visual artists. Students and faculty from the Visual Arts department collaborated to create a unique event that included original works of art and music.
THEATRE
The student-directed One-Act Festival featured all 114 Theatre majors!
Gulshirin Dubash directed Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812with production elements designed by Academy students Clay Pisto (set design), Matthew Rudman and Nettie James-Drost (costumes), and Quinn Iris (lighting design)
Bill Church directed Hamlet, which featured original music by Academy students Bug Jaffe and Owen Zanotti.
Photo: Design and Production students prepare in Harvey Theatre
VISUAL ARTS
In collaboration with the Dennos Museum, Visual Arts students created an exhibition celebrating community: Solo e Tutti: A Celebration of Community. The collection of works offered a new take on the concept of community, reflecting the diversity of the Academy.
Led by Jacob Sussman and London Parker, Visual Arts students teamed up with the Wind Symphony to produce a program to inspire the ears and the eyes: In Sounds, Shapes and Symbols.
The Visual Arts division collaborated with the Parsons School of Design Scholars Program on a unique exhibition. The project featured contributions from 25 sophomore students of the Parsons Scholars Program and 20 freshmen and sophomore students from the Academy. The exhibition was shown at Interlochen and in New York at Parsons School of Design earlier this month.
Photo: Visual Arts students collaborated with museum consultant Elaine Gurian (center).
MORE ACCOLADES
In addition to all these incredible accomplishments, I’m happy to also note these student accolades:
Audrey Dupuis’ original song “Ugly Dress” is now streaming on all music platforms. The song was produced by Caroline Chardoul and mastered by Murphy McCleery. Owain Collins directed the music video.
Zoe Stroupe’s original song “Colorado Bruise” begins streaming on all music platforms tonight at midnight. The song was produced by Ally Waddell. Maddie Cohen directed the music video.
Classical Voice Major Dru Dumas was awarded first place in the high school division of the George Shirley Vocal Competition.
Please take a moment today to show your gratitude to all the faculty and staff who have helped support your Interlochen journey. To write a note of appreciation, and to learn more about how to stay in touch after Interlochen, please stop by Apollo Hall for the GRADitude Festival, today between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Photo: All-school photo on our Day of Caring
Congratulations, again, on all you’ve done this year. I cannot wait to see what you do next.
Camille Colatosti, PhD (she/her) Provost Interlochen Center for the Arts E:camille.colatosti@interlochen.org P: 231.276.4395 C: 617.838.6751 W:interlochen.org Arts Camp | Arts Academy | College of Creative Arts | Presents | Public Radio
