<p>My daughter will be attending Interlochen Arts Academy next fall as a theater major; she will be entering as a junior. I will try to answer a few of your questions.</p>
<p>Let me start by saying I do not know anything about Interlochen’s Visual Arts program, and I encourage you to contact the head of the department and talk to them about your questions. We found everyone at Interlochen - the admissions office, the academic office, individual teachers, the head of the Theater department - all extremely welcoming and willing to answer any and all questions.</p>
<p>I do think you might have difficulty pursuing visual art and orchestra. You are required to audition for a major, and there isn’t such a thing as a “double major.” (There is a Comparative Arts major, but that is really designed for someone who wants to combine several disciplines; I know of a comparative arts major who is a dancer/choreographer and a costume designer, so she takes artistic classes in both the dance and theater departments.) </p>
<p>I do know that my daughter, who is a great saxophone player, will not be pursuing this at Interlochen. I believe she could audition for the sax ensemble or the jazz band, but realistically, she just wouldn’t have the time to fit it in. (Our interviewer said that last year there was a Theater major who was also in the sax ensemble, but he was a PG, and only had the requirement to take one academic course - the rest of his schedule was open for artistic courses.)</p>
<p>Don’t forget - Interlochen is a high school, not a conservatory. Academics are important, and from our research, are also extremely rigorous. I would go as far as to say that out of all the arts-focused boarding schools, Interlochen is recognized as the most academically challenging. Depending on what year you enter, a good part of your school day will be taken up with academic courses. There will only be so many “artistic” courses that you can take each day. (And unlike most high schools, at Interlochen, your rehearsals are part of your school day, and take up one or two “blocks” in the schedule.) Each major generally has a “block” that you’re required to take - for a junior Theater Major, it is three classes a day - two for “Theater Company” and one for “Acting Technique." I’m not sure about the other programs, but I know that the Music majors have a “block” that includes band/orchestra/ensembles rehearsals, and the Dance majors have a “ block” that includes all their dance instruction, as well as Company.</p>
<p>As far as your comment that the level at Interlochen is starting to slip - there has been a fair amount of controversy over several popular, long-term teachers not having their contracts renewed. From my research, I do not feel this has anything to do with budget cuts. The school is in good financial health, and is celebrating their 50th anniversary (quite young compared to so many boarding schools!). I urge you to go to the Interlochen website, and spend some time researching there. Look for President Kimpton’s convocation address from the start of school this fall - he talks a lot about strategic plans for the next 50 years at Interlochen, which really gives a good perspective on how the school is changing to continue to stay relevant in a changing world. (Just think about how digital technology has changed so many things related to the arts - animation, graphic design, recording technology, music creation, how art is created and shared, just to name a few!)</p>