Interlochen announces collaboration with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and The Philadelphia Orchestra, featuring the world premiere of Wynton Marsalis’ cello concerto with Yo-Yo Ma and Joshua McClendon led by Cristian Măcelaru
Interlochen Arts Academy students will perform alongside members of each orchestra in a landmark tour, including concerts in Michigan (March 7 in Interlochen and March 10 in Detroit), Pennsylvania (March 13), and Massachusetts (March 15).
Commissioned by Interlochen, the new Marsalis work is programmed alongside Reena Esmail’s “RE|member” and a reimagined performance of Charles Ives’ Symphony No. 4 including multidisciplinary elements by students from all seven of the Academy’s artistic disciplines.
The four-city spring 2026 tour advances creative youth development in honor of the 250th anniversary of the United States, marks the 100th anniversary of the collaboration between Interlochen and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and launches celebrations related to Interlochen’s centennial in 2028.
March 2026 tour partners Joshua McClendon (top left), Wynton Marsalis (bottom left), Yo-Yo Ma (center), Reena Esmail (top right), and Cristian Măcelaru (bottom right).
As Interlochen Center for the Arts anticipates its centennial in 2028, plans for a major tour by Interlochen students are finalized for March 7-15, 2026. The tour is a collaborative project with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, The Philadelphia Orchestra, and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and features side-by-side performances with members of each orchestra, many of whom are Interlochen alumni. Cristian Măcelaru, Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of Interlochen’s World Youth Symphony Orchestra and Music Director Designate of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, and Interlochen Arts Camp and Academy alumnus, will conduct.
During the tour—which will kick off at Interlochen and include stops in Detroit, Philadelphia, and Boston—students will present a program featuring a new cello concerto by Wynton Marsalis commissioned by Interlochen; Reena Esmail’s “RE|member”; and, a reimagined performance of Charles Ives’ Symphony No. 4 including multidisciplinary elements by students from all seven of the Academy’s artistic disciplines.
In preparation for the tour, Yo-Yo Ma will work with Arts Academy students and will serve as the soloist for the Marsalis concerto for the performances in Interlochen, Philadelphia, and Boston. Isidore String Quartet cellist, Arts Academy alumnus, and Detroit native Joshua McClendon will appear as the guest soloist for the Detroit performance. Performance dates and locations for the spring 2026 tour are:
- Saturday, March 7 - Corson Auditorium | Interlochen, Michigan
- Tuesday, March 10 - Orchestra Hall, Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center | Detroit, Michigan
- Friday, March 13 - Marian Anderson Hall, Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Sunday, March 15 - Symphony Hall | Boston, Massachusetts
“Interlochen Arts Academy students from 45 U.S. states and territories, 27 countries, and other young artists from the tour areas will come together, exemplifying the power of the arts to foster understanding and connection, and to help advance the ideals of a democratic society,” explained Trey Devey, President of Interlochen Center for the Arts. “This tour gives an important youth voice to programming in honor of the nation’s semiquincentennial, creating mini-festivals in each community, reinforcing the essential role of youth arts education, and providing our incredibly talented students with the chance to be mentored by some of the world’s finest musicians as they explore what it means to be a citizen artist. Interlochen is proud to bring current students and the many alumni who hold positions in these orchestras together as we begin celebrations leading to our centennial in 2028.”
“We are delighted to collaborate with partners who share our commitment to citizen artistry and to inspiring the next generation of artists,” said The Philadelphia Orchestra interim President and CEO Ryan Fleur. “As we celebrate America’s 250th birthday, we look to the future and to the young people who will help to shape it. This impactful partnership will provide unique opportunities for the next generation of creatives to hone the skills that will enable them to positively impact society through their artistry.”
“The Boston Symphony Orchestra is honored to host Interlochen Arts Academy as part of their extraordinary tour celebrating the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding. Artistic explorations like these remind us of the vital role the arts have played in shaping America’s story—expressing our shared history, inspiring new perspectives, and bringing people together across generations. By uniting young artists with world-class musicians, this collaboration embodies the spirit of creativity and mentorship that continues to define our nation’s cultural legacy. We look forward to welcoming these exceptional young musicians to Symphony Hall and celebrating the power of music to connect us to our past and guide us toward the future,” said Chad Smith, the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s President and CEO.
Currently, 15 alumni and two alumni parents are musicians with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, nine alumni and one alumni staff member are musicians with The Philadelphia Orchestra, and 16 alumni and five alumni staff members are musicians with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.
The March 2026 Detroit performance marks the 100th anniversary of the collaboration between Interlochen and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, which began in 1926 with the inaugural performance of the National High School Orchestra—the precursor to Interlochen Arts Camp—at the DSO’s Orchestra Hall. Over the decades, DSO musicians and conductors have regularly served as faculty members and guest artists at Interlochen Arts Camp and Arts Academy. Since 2019, the orchestra has conducted annual residencies at Interlochen Arts Camp which include a public concert by the DSO, master classes, and a side-by-side performance featuring the World Youth Symphony Orchestra and musicians from the DSO.
“The Detroit Symphony Orchestra celebrates its shared history with Interlochen as national leaders in arts education, particularly in bringing the joy of music to young people in the state of Michigan for a century,” said Erik Rönmark, President and CEO of the DSO. “We can think of no more fitting tribute to the 100th anniversary of our collaboration than this concert by the Interlochen Arts Academy Orchestra at Orchestra Hall in Detroit with DSO musicians who are Interlochen alumni and cellist Joshua McClendon.”
In addition to the performances, Interlochen faculty will visit the greater Detroit, Philadelphia, and Boston areas to work with youth arts organizations in all seven of Interlochen’s disciplines: music, theatre, visual arts, film & new media, dance, creative writing, and interdisciplinary arts. Students associated with these youth arts organizations will be chosen to receive full-tuition scholarships to Interlochen Arts Camp. Interlochen Arts Academy’s 2026 tour will build on many recent student touring opportunities, including a performance as part of the New York Philharmonic’s 2022-23 season and a critically acclaimed 2016 performance by the Arts Academy Orchestra at the NY Phil Biennial. Other recent Arts Academy tours include a multidisciplinary performance at Miami’s New World Center in early March 2020 and premieres of new works at National Sawdust and Carnegie Hall in February 2019.
This tour is one of several major initiatives leading up to Interlochen's Centennial celebrations in 2028. For complete biographical information for Interlochen’s 2026 tour partners, please visit:
Yo-Yo Ma at www.yo-yoma.com
Wynton Marsalis at wyntonmarsalis.org/
Cristian Măcelaru at macelaru.com/
Reena Esmail at www.reenaesmail.com/
Boston Symphony Orchestra at www.bso.org/
Detroit Symphony Orchestra at www.dso.org/
The Philadelphia Orchestra at www.philorch.org
