Score sheets at Interlochen's Music Library in the 1940s
In the 1920s, the Music Supervisors National Conference asked conductor and educator Joseph E. Maddy to assemble talented high school musicians from around the US to form the National High School Orchestra. The orchestra met in 1926 in Detroit, and was asked to reconvene in 1927 and 1928.[4]
In 1927, Maddy incorporated the National High School Orchestra Camp, and began searching for ideal locations, eventually narrowing it down to sites in Maine and Michigan. He was invited by Interlochen businessman Willis Pennington to tour his hotel and summer camp properties, adjacent to Interlochen State Park (Camp Interlochen and Camp Penn Loch, for boys and girls, respectively).[5] Maddy chose the site, and, in 1928, the first season of the National High School Orchestra Camp convened.
In 1944, Maddy purchased Camps Interlochen and Penn Loch, absorbing them and the National High School Orchestra Camp into his new Interlochen Center for the Arts.[4]
In 1963, Interlochen Public Radio (WIAA) started to broadcast. Originally broadcasting eight hours per day, it grew enough within a decade to become a charter member of National Public Radio. Interlochen Public Radio became a network in 1989 with the addition of WICV. Interlochen bought contemporary Christian station WDQV in 2005 and converted it into a third satellite for the eastern portion of the market, WIAB.[citation needed]
Programs
Interlochen Center for the Arts is the umbrella organization for summer program Interlochen Arts Camp,[6] arts boarding high school Interlochen Arts Academy,[7]National Public Radio (NPR) charter station Interlochen Public Radio,[8] performance series Interlochen Presents, adult arts program Interlochen College of Creative Arts,[9] and online arts program Interlochen Online.[10]
Interlochen Arts Camp
The Interlochen Arts Camp is the original educational institution created by Maddy.
Interlochen Arts Academy
Interlochen Arts Academy is a pre-professional arts boarding high school, founded in 1962 by Maddy. The school offers seven arts majors in creative writing, dance, film and new media, interdisciplinary arts, music, theater, and visual arts.
Interlochen College of Creative Arts
Founded in 2004, Interlochen College of Creative Arts offers non-degree granting arts programs and continuing education units for adults 18 years and older.
Interlochen Center for the Arts is home to Interlochen Public Radio (or IPR), a National Public Radio member station that broadcasts a signal to most of the lower peninsula of Northern Michigan as well as parts of eastern Wisconsin. Two listener-supported stations broadcast to northwest Michigan: Classical Music 88.7, 88.5, 94.7 and 100.9 FM; News Radio 91.5, 90.1 and 89.7 FM. Broadcasts include arts programming, news and culture from around the world, as well as local and regional news. IPR was a charter member of National Public Radio.
Founded in 1963, Interlochen Public Radio or WIAA was envisioned as an extension of the "Music From Interlochen" program which ran on the NBC radio network. The Music From Interlochen Program informed a wider audience about the activities at the then-named National Music Camp and the nascent Interlochen Arts Academy. The station was slow to catch on in its early years and some considered shutting down the operation. Interlochen Public Radio went on to establish itself with two service channels: one for music and one for news.
In 1993, Interlochen Public Radio reportedly had one of the highest rates of per capita contributions of any public radio station in the United States.[11] The station's classical music service is broadcast from their main tower at WIAA 88.7 FM in Interlochen, along with WIAB 88.5 FM in Mackinaw City, and W234BU 94.7 FM in Traverse City. In 2000, IPR began offering a separate news service on WICA 91.5 FM in Traverse City, and later added WLMN 89.7 FM in Manistee and WHBP 90.1 FM in Harbor Springs.
Presidential Scholars in the Arts: Interlochen Arts Academy is a perennial front-runner among American high schools in its production of Presidential Scholars in the Arts, having produced more recipients of the award than any other school in the nation.[14]
↑ Record-Eagle, JOHN SINKEVICS Special to the (November 13, 2014). "Borns finds pop inspiration in Calif". Traverse City Record-Eagle. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
↑ O'Riley, Christopher (November 5, 2003). "Show 091 Interlochen, Michigan". NPR From The Top. National Public Radio. Archived from the original on November 3, 2011. Retrieved October 24, 2011.
↑ Victoria Schneps (December 23, 2021). "Power Women with Victoria Schneps" (Podcast). Schneps Media. Event occurs at 2:12-3:32. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
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