Interlochen Arts Camp announces 2022 Valade Concertmasters and Fellows

More than two dozen elite classical musicians will mentor young artists as part of the 95th season of Interlochen Arts Camp.

Valade Concertmaster Celeste Golden Boyer coaches students at Interlochen Arts Camp in 2021.

March 16, 2022

Interlochen Arts Camp has announced the 2022 Valade Concertmasters and Fellows, a roster of elite musicians who will mentor young artists as part of the 95th season of the renowned summer arts program.

“We’re thrilled to welcome over two dozen top performers and teaching artists to Interlochen Arts Camp this summer,” said Interlochen Director of Music Enrique Márquez. “Our young artists will benefit immeasurably from working closely with these world-class musicians.”

Selected from the ranks of America’s finest orchestras, the Valade Concertmasters serve as mentors and role models for violinists in the World Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Interlochen Philharmonic, among other student ensembles. These distinguished performers participate in rehearsals and tap into their many decades of orchestral leadership experience to guide the next generation of violin players and concertmasters.

An elite group of teaching artists from around the world, the Valade Fellows provide guidance and mentorship to Interlochen woodwind, brass, percussion, and string students. Like the Valade Concertmasters, the Valade Fellows attend rehearsals, lead sectionals, and offer instrument-specific perspectives on a variety of musical and professional topics.

The Valade Master Teacher Endowment was made possible through the generosity of Arts Camp alumna Margaret Valade and her husband, Gary Valade, a life trustee of Interlochen Center for the Arts. A vital source of funding for recruiting and retaining sought-after faculty, the endowment has supported the Valade Fellows since 2005 and the Valade Concertmasters since 2015.

Interlochen Arts Camp previously announced the World Youth Symphony Orchestra’s 2022 conductors and repertoire. Leading conductors Jader Bignamini, Roderick Cox, Tito Muñoz, Robert Trevino, and Erina Yashima will make their Interlochen debuts this summer, with Muñoz leading the World Youth Symphony Orchestra in its traditional end-of-session performance, “Les Préludes.” World Youth Symphony Orchestra Artistic Director and Principal Conductor Cristian Măcelaru rounds out a star-studded season.

Interlochen Arts Camp is the nation’s premier multidisciplinary summer arts program, where emerging artists transform passion and potential into purpose. Guided by internationally renowned artists, campers ages 8 to 18 study music, theatre, dance, visual arts, creative writing, and film in a glorious, natural setting with like-minded peers.

Interlochen Arts Camp 2022 is still accepting applications; availability is limited and prospective students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible at interlochen.org/apply.

2022 Valade Concertmasters

Margaret Batjer
Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra

Celeste Golden Boyer
St. Louis Symphony Orchestra

Dennis Kim
Pacific Symphony

Timothy Lees
Former concertmaster, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

Jeff Thayer
San Diego Symphony

2022 Valade Fellows

John Aley
Principal Trumpet, Madison Symphony Orchestra

Vincent DiMartino
Valade Fellow, Instructor of Trumpet

Brad GemeinHardt
Horn, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra

Natalie Helm
Principal Cello, Sarasota Orchestra

Bruce Henniss
Associate Professor of Horn, Ohio State University