Score sheets at Interlochen's Music Library in the 1940s
In 1925, Music Supervisors National Conference President Edgar B. Gordon asked conductor and educator Joseph E. Maddy to assemble talented high school musicians from around the US to perform at the conference's 1926 gathering in Detroit, Michigan. The resulting ensemble, the National High School Orchestra, performed at Detroit's Orchestra Hall on April 16, 1926. The orchestra was asked to reconvene in 1927 and 1928.[4][5]
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.[6] 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).[7][8] Maddy chose the site, and, in 1928, the first season of the National High School Orchestra Camp convened. In 1932, the Camp changed its name to the National Music Camp; despite the addition of other artistic disciplines, the name remained until 1991, when it was updated to Interlochen Arts Camp.[9]
In 1944, Maddy purchased Camps Interlochen and Penn Loch, absorbing them into the National Music Camp.[4]
Interlochen Arts Academy, a year-round arts boarding school affiliated with the Camp and housed on the same campus, opened in 1962. The school, which combines college-preparatory academics with conservatory-caliber arts training, was the first of its kind in the United States. [10]
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 that encompasses summer program Interlochen Arts Camp,[11] arts boarding high school Interlochen Arts Academy,[12]National Public Radio (NPR) charter station Interlochen Public Radio,[13] performance series Interlochen Presents, adult arts program Interlochen College of Creative Arts,[14] online arts program Interlochen Online,[15] and lodging and dining provider Interlochen Hospitality.
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; and 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.[16] 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.
Awards and accolades
National Medal of Arts: In 2006, Interlochen Center for the Arts was named recipient of the National Medal of Arts.[17][18]
American Classical Music Hall of Fame: In 2021, Interlochen Center for the Arts became the 14th musical organization inducted into the American Classical Music Hall of Fame.[19]
↑ 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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