Michigan, USA-based Interlochen Center for the Arts has announced that the 93rd season of its multidisciplinary summer arts program will take place exclusively online, in response to the coronavirus crisis.
Like Interlochen’s traditional Arts Camp, Interlochen Online will feature seminars and coaching led by renowned artists including violinist Nicoletta Benedetti, the School of American Ballet’s Craig Hall, television writer and producer Janet Leahy and jazz musician Wynton Marsalis. In addition, there will be virtual performances, exhibitions, screenings, and readings by students and faculty, as well as daily ‘virtual cabin’ social activities.
The 2020 summer camp will begin with a virtual gathering of students and the Interlochen community on 28 June, with classes taking place from June 29 to July 17, 2020 and virtual multidisciplinary performances on July 18 and 19. Programs will be offered in acting, musical theatre, theatre design and production, creative writing, visual arts, dance, filmmaking, classical music performance and composition, music production and engineering, songwriting, jazz performance and improvisation, and general arts for students in grades 2-12.
Trey Devey, Interlochen President, said:
‘After careful evaluation of the projected impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have made the difficult decision to pivot this summer’s Arts Camp to a virtual model.
‘No words can fully capture our profound sadness and disappointment in the loss of convening on campus, but we are guided by our first priority: ensuring the safety and well-being of our students, faculty, staff, volunteers, guests, and the entire Interlochen community.
‘Interlochen Online enables us to continue to nurture young artists, expand their creative capacities, and provide them with critically needed inspiration and community during this unprecedented time.’
To learn more about and apply to Interlochen Online’s camp programs, visit interlochen.org/online
Header photo: Students perform at the 2019 Les preludes concert in the Interlochen bowl © Interlochen Center for the Arts
