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From the Desk of Trey Devey: Illimitable creative potential
President Devey reflects on some of the summer’s most memorable moments—from once-in-a-lifetime performances to the beginning of lifelong friendships.
Intermediate Acting Company Production students tour Interlochen’s costume collection.
Dear friends,
There’s a palpable buzz outside my window, and it’s not just the 17-year cicadas: It’s the unique magic of Interlochen Arts Camp.
I always hesitate to describe Interlochen in such fantastical terms, but Merriam Webster’s Dictionary offers few other words that come close to encapsulating the vibrancy of these seven glorious weeks. For just shy of two months, our campus brims with the illimitable creative potential that can exist only when thousands of gifted students, world-class faculty, and dedicated staff converge. Immersed in this generative atmosphere, it truly feels like anything is possible.
This summer, we welcomed a record-breaking 3,344 students to Interlochen Arts Camp. More than 50% of these students received a scholarship, and I am deeply grateful to our donors for not only increasing access to our programs but also for supporting the many remarkable experiences our students have enjoyed this summer.
Music students have rehearsed and performed under the batons of renowned conductors—including Jason K. Fettig, Jader Bignamini, Akiko Fujimoto, Patricia Cornett, and our own Cristian Mӑcelaru—and alongside professional musicians such as Ray Chen and members of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Students in the World Youth Symphony Orchestra have also presented the Michigan premieres of two new works commissioned in partnership with the New York Youth Symphony: “Condense Eternity” by Alex Berko and “Sighting the Swallow” by Bobby Ge.
The High School Musical Theatre Production program is preparing for a production of Wonderful Town under the direction of two 2003 Broadway revival cast members: Rick Faugno and Joyce Chittick. Other summer 2024 productions include Kate Hamill’s stage adaptation of Sense and Sensibility; William Shakespeare’s The Tempest; and the Tony Award-winning Matilda the Musical.
Beyond their daily classes and rehearsals, our students have attended master classes with the Vitamin String Quartet (featuring Arts Camp alumnus Derek Stein), set designer Edward T. Morris, author Corey Van Landingham, and many other acclaimed artists.
The Interlochen Arts Festival continues to provide dynamic opportunities for students to see—and to be part of—professional performances. Young artists of all ages and artistic disciplines performed in this year’s exceptional production of “Collage.” The Interlochen Shakespeare Festival brought several Arts Camp and Arts Academy alumni back to campus for a hilarious, swing dance era-inspired production of William Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors. Arts Camp alumna Norah Jones also returned, performing a sold-out show in Kresge Auditorium on July 13. Fellow alumna Jewel will also stage a sold-out show later this summer.
Across the street, Interlochen Public Radio (IPR) propels the future of classical music by showcasing artists from Interlochen on the air and in the community. IPR presents weekly, live broadcasts of World Youth Symphony Orchestra concerts, and several Arts Camp students and faculty members have appeared on the station’s popular In Studio A segment.
The station’s groundbreaking Sound Garden Project—which plants classical music in unexpected places throughout northern Michigan—continues to reimagine the 21st-century concert experience in its third season. Audiences from Frankfort to Charlevoix have enjoyed performances by emerging chamber ensembles Kodak Quartet, Fivemind Reeds, and PULSE. Beyond their involvement with the Sound Garden Project, the Kodak Quartet has been investing in the string musicians of tomorrow by serving as mentors to students in the Advanced String Quartet program.
While it is easy to focus on the highlights, I want to acknowledge the myriad tiny moments that make Arts Camp truly transformational: the breakthroughs in private lessons, the feedback that takes a script from good to great, the breathtaking Green Lake sunsets, and the “bunk talk” sessions that spark lifelong friendships. These moments are made possible by our unparalleled faculty and staff, and I am immensely thankful for the 1,081 passionate individuals who have dedicated their summer to curating life-changing experiences and nurturing our students. I encourage you to check out our summer 2024 snapshot for a glimpse of some of these memorable moments—both big and small.
Beneath the hum of creativity, the cicadas are starting to sing: a reminder that summer is swiftly drawing to a close. The 97th season of Interlochen Arts Camp will conclude, as always, with the perennial performance of “Les Préludes” on Sunday, Aug. 4. Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra Music Director JoAnn Falletta will conduct—becoming the first woman in Interlochen history to lead the performance. I hope that you’ll join us on campus, online, or over the airwaves for this historic event, and for other end-of-session showcases.
As our 97th season concludes, only two seasons stand between us and our 100th anniversary. I invite you to discover our vision for our second century as a leader in arts education and join us as we build momentum to our centennial. Together, we can ensure that the promises and possibilities of Interlochen remain abundant—and accessible—for decades to come.
With gratitude,
Trey Devey
President, Interlochen Center for the Arts
