Daughter #2 plays cello, prob not going to major in music in college but is talented and has a passion for music. Older daughter attended the 1-week Percussion Institute and loved it. This one is worried that 6 weeks would be too long to be away. She’ll be 17 yrs old. Can anyone comment on the level of talent there, how competitive (or not) it is, the quality of the electives offered and what the experience is like socially? Thanks for any thoughts!
I don’t have personal experience with Interlochen, but if you’re in the Midwest, you might look into Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp (also in northern Michigan), given your daughter’s concerns. BLFAC has shorter sessions (12 days) and is considered a bit more chill than Interlochen, socially and competitively. The musical experience is still very high quality, especially in the top ensembles (i.e. Masterworks Orchestra, Advanced Chamber Orchestra), and they offer something like 25 different minors.
My daughter attended Interlochen for two summers for institute and camp and one year at the academy for clarinet. I cannot say enough good things about Interlochen. It is the best thing we ever did for our daughter. I would not worry about how long it is because your child will not want to leave there. Interlochen was a life-changing experience for our daughter. It is highly competitive but I would have your daughter apply to more than one summer camp and if she can get into Interlochen, hands-down that is the best place you could send her. She will make lifetime friends from all over the world. They call Interlochen the magical forest and if you visit you will know why. There is the most amazing feeling when you are on that campus it’s not something one can describe.
I think that Interlochen is a really special place. I was an Interlochen ‘brat’; spent 7 summers there starting at the age of 10, back when the summer camp was 8 weeks long. It was like my second home and I still keep in touch with friends I made there. I didn’t go on into music but wouldn’t trade my time there for anything.
My son attended two summers, in the shorter jazz sessions (3 weeks.) I don’t think he got quite the same “camp” experience going for a shorter time, but loved it just the same. He especially loved the faculty, who are consistently excellent. Many return year after year. Just from those two 3 week sessions, my son met instructors who he still considers to be his mentors. One actually played on his pre-screen recordings and another wrote college application recommendations for him.
FWIW, my son also attended Blue Lake as well as their International Exchange program. He also attended MPluse at University of Michigan. Blue Lake and Interlochen have more of a “summer camp” atmosphere. Older, more independent high schoolers may find it somewhat constricting. MPulse, I think, felt more like “college prep”. The International Exchange program at Blue Lake was the experience, I think, that set him on a path to choosing music as a profession.
Thank you so much for your response!
Thank you so much!