Exceptional young pianists to converge at Interlochen Center for the Arts for Interlochen - Lang Lang International Music Foundation Intensive - Becoming A Citizen Artist
The one-week summer program will empower the Lang Lang Young Scholars to develop as citizen artists and explore audience engagement through public performances presented in partnership with Interlochen Public Radio.
The Lang Lang Young Scholars with Lang Lang (seated at piano) at A Night of Elegance and Musical Mastery. Photo by Andrew Werner.
In June 2025, 17 of the world’s finest young pianists will converge at Interlochen Center for the Arts for the Interlochen - Lang Lang International Music Foundation Piano Intensive - Becoming A Citizen Artist.
The one-week intensive is a new summer offering, resulting from a partnership between the Interlochen Center for the Arts and the Lang Lang Young Scholars Program, a multi-year mentoring program for pianists under the age of 16 presented by the Lang Lang International Music Foundation. During the intensive, which will run June 14-20, 2025, the scholars will focus on building their capacities as citizen artists and strengthening their abilities to communicate with and engage their audiences through a series of community concerts presented in partnership with Interlochen Public Radio.
“We’re delighted to welcome the Lang Lang Young Scholars to Interlochen and to share the core capacities of successful citizen artists with these emerging musicians,” said Trey Devey, president of Interlochen Center for the Arts. “This exciting opportunity not only allows us to play a role in preparing these remarkable young pianists but also to deepen our relationship with globally renowned pianist Lang Lang and his extraordinary Foundation.”
"We are thrilled to partner with Interlochen Center for the Arts to offer this unique opportunity to our Lang Lang Young Scholars,” said Leszek Barwinski-Brown, CEO of the Lang Lang International Music Foundation. “This intensive represents a crucial step in their development, not only as musicians but as engaged citizen artists. We believe this program will equip these talented young pianists with the tools to communicate their passion and artistry, leaving a lasting impact on their audiences and communities around the world."
While at Interlochen, the Lang Lang Young Scholars will be mentored by an exceptional faculty of artist-educators from the top conservatories and universities in the U.S., led by Interlochen Marjorie Wood Drackett Piano Chair Dr. Kara Huber. Other instructors for the program include Curtis Institute of Music Eleanor Sokoloff Chair in Piano Studies Michelle Cann; Indiana University Jacobs School of Music Piano Department Chair Norman Krieger; Indiana University Jacobs School of Music Associate Professor of Piano Spencer Myer; and Interlochen Arts Academy Instructor of Piano Christopher Goodpasture.
Students also have unique opportunities:
- They will work with renowned instructors, from some of the nation’s best schools, universities and conservatories, in private lessons and master classes.
- They will work with Interlochen Public Radio Music Director Dr. Amanda Sewell to prepare for and present an interview, recorded and shared on IPR.
- Students will work with Interlochen Director of Music Production & Engineering Marc Lacuesta, who will introduce them to the skills needed to collaborate with a studio engineer. Students will walk away with a studio recording.
Most importantly, throughout the intensive, students will present a number of public performances both on Interlochen’s beautiful 1,200-acre campus and beyond. Drawing on the success of their chamber music residency program The Sound Garden Project, Interlochen Public Radio will stage community-based performances by the Lang Lang Young Scholars in the greater Grand Traverse area—connecting these extraordinary young artists to audiences across northern Michigan and empowering them to become public ambassadors for classical music. These diverse performance opportunities will enable students to engage with audiences, both up-close and personal and through the concert hall.
Students also have an opportunity to practice the Alexander Technique, a study of movement designed to help musicians maintain healthy postures and bodies throughout their lives. And students will learn to design a performance program. The intensive will culminate in a piano extravaganza at Interlochen’s Dendrinos Chapel and Recital Hall, which will be open to the public.
The Interlochen - Lang Lang International Music Foundation Piano Intensive - Becoming A Citizen Artist is funded by the US China Cultural Foundation. Interlochen Trustee Doug Hsieh and his brothers on the Foundation Board see this program as an example of Interlochen’s role as a leader in creative youth development and as reflective of Interlochen’s mission in its dedication to promoting world friendship through the universal language of the arts.
About the Lang Lang International Music Foundation
Founded in 2008 by Lang Lang, the Lang Lang International Music Foundation (LLIMF) strives to educate, inspire, and motivate the next generation of music lovers and performers. Their unique programs encourage music performance at all levels as a means of social and emotional development for today’s youth. By igniting a child’s passion for music, the foundation is helping children worldwide aim for a better future. www.langlangfoundation.org
About Interlochen Public Radio
Interlochen Public Radio connects people in northern Michigan to the world and the world to life in northern Michigan. A listener-supported broadcast service of Interlochen Center for the Arts, Interlochen Public Radio is home to two distinct radio stations serving northwest lower Michigan with music, news, and culture from the region and the world—every day, 24 hours a day. IPR is affiliated with National Public Radio, Public Radio International, Michigan Public Radio, Michigan Association of Public Broadcasters, the National Association of Broadcasters and the Associated Press.
About Interlochen Center for the Arts
The nonprofit Interlochen Center for the Arts is a recipient of the National Medal of Arts and the only organization in the world that brings together a 3,000-student summer camp program; a 500-student fine arts boarding high school; opportunities for hundreds of adults to engage in fulfilling artistic and creative programs; two 24-hour listener-supported public radio services (classical music and news); more than 600 arts presentations annually by students, faculty and world-renowned guest artists; and a global alumni base spanning nine decades, including leaders in the arts and all other endeavors. For information, visit Interlochen online at www.interlochen.org.
