In 1995 The Interlochen Arts Academy, a school that has long been noted for its success in training orchestral and vocal musicians as well as pianists, made a renewed commitment to establish a vibrant guitar program. Although the strength of the overall music program produced some very notable guitarists, Michael Hedges, Bill Frisell and Bruce Dunlap, the guitar program had failed to draw a consistent presence of good students or send them on to consistent success. Since 1995 Interlochen guitar program has maintained a strong solo and ensemble program with an impressive roster of guest artists and master class instructors. Graduates have been consistently leaving the academy with strong skills. These students, who come from around the world as well as across the U.S., are entering top college level programs in significant numbers The list of schools which have accepted IAA guitar grads and from which they have chosen includes Peabody, Eastman, the New England Conservatory, the Royal Academy of Music, Cal Arts, Oberlin Conservatory, Cleveland Music Institute, Yale University, San Francisco Conservatory, North Carolina School of the Arts, Mannes School of Music, The new School, University of Miami, North Texas State, Manhattan School of Music, Indiana University School of Music, Princeton, Rutgers, Principia College, Berklee School of Music, and N.Y.U.In 1995 The Interlochen Arts Academy, a school has long been noted for its success in training orchestral and vocal musicians as well as pianists, made a renewed commitment to establish a vibrant guitar program. Although the strength of the overall music program produced some very notable guitarists, Michael Hedges, Bill Frisell and Bruce Dunlap, the guitar program had failed to draw a consistent presence of good students or send them on to consistent success. Since 1995 Interlochen guitar program has maintained a strong solo and ensemble program with an impressive roster of guest artists and master class instructors. Graduates have been consistently leaving the academy with strong skills. These students, who come from around the world as well as across the U.S., are entering top college level programs in significant numbers The list of schools which have accepted IAA guitar grads and from which they have chosen includes Peabody, Eastman, the New England Conservatory, the Royal Academy of Music, Cal Arts, Oberlin Conservatory, Cleveland Music Institute, Yale University, San Francisco Conservatory, North Carolina School of the Arts, Mannes School of Music, The new School, University of Miami, North Texas State, Manhattan School of Music, Indiana University School of Music, Princeton, Rutgers, Principia College, Berklee School of Music, and N.Y.U.
Wunsch attributes the success of the program to a combination of the distinctively inspirationalatmosphere of the renowned school and the students it attracts, with the addition of excellent guest instructors and concert artists. These factors are coupled with the school's offering of strong music theory (IAA grads regularly skip 1,2, and sometimes 3 years of college level theory), consistent performance opportunities and a strong, experienced, and diverse faculty.
The guest artists all give both a concert and a class when they come to IAA, and the list of artists over the last five years is both diverse and impressive. Imagine a high school where the last five years include concerts and classes given by The Assad Duo, David Russell, Leo Kotke, Jimmy Bruno, The L.A. Guitar Quartet, Nicholas Goluses, Pierre Bensusan, The Falla Trio, Jack Wilkens, Fabio Zannon, William Kanengiser, Adam Holtzman, Pearl Gray Duo, Vic Juris, Paulo Belinati, and Neuman-Oltman Duo among others. The opportunity to meet, hear, and play for artists of this stature as a regular part of your high school classes gives young students an unparalleled experience.
Many of these artists have been very impressed with these students and this program.
As William Kanengiser recently expressed:
"I have taught around the world for many years and I am blown away. I cannot believe these are high school students."
Sergio Assad's experience at Interlochen moved him to inquire about sending some of his own students here.
"I was impressed with the atmosphere that Interlochen provides for the students and thought it would be a good place for some of my former students to consider for further study."
After his second visit to IAA, David Russell wrote:
"They all had a good, warm sound and good basic technique. I was most impressed by their performance.. The rapport between students and their teacher was excellent."
And as these students move on to conservatories, they are leaving a distinctly positive impression.
Nicholas Goluses, guitar instructor and string department chair at Eastman stated:
"IAA is a great place for the student who wants to make rapid progress and be sure of receiving good technical training. The high level of talent and dedication in the other students can be a great motivating force."
Julian Grey, Peabody Conservatory:
"We have had a number of students from Interlochen audition for our program here at Peabody. I have been uniformly impressed with both the technical security and focus of these applicants. Their performances have shown that they have been given solid foundation in handling the guitar and clear guidance in a professional presentation of their music. Congratulations to the work John Wunsch has done. The Interlochen students who have come to study with me at Peabody have been some of the finest undergraduate students."
And most exciting of all is the accessibility of this school to talented students of all financial
situations from all around the world. Although tuition is similar to many private schools, the
scholarship opportunities for talented students of limited means are generous. Over 70% of the more than 400 students at Interlochen receive financial aid. The average student receives over $13,000 each year in scholarship support. Foreign students are placed in a program with four different teachers who are dedicated to teaching them speaking, writing and communication skills in English in the shortest time possible. Even students entering with limited English quickly become comfortable at Interlochen.
Jazz study at IAA is also very exciting. The jazz band has been recognized three times in the past six years: in 1994 at the 17th Downbeat Annual Student Music Awards for Original Composition/Songs, in 1995 at the Downbeat 18th Annual Student Music Awards for Jazz Big Band/Jazz Ensemble and in 1998 the band received a Certificate of Merit at the 3rd Annual Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition and Festival at Lincoln Center. They were presented the certificate by Wynton Marsalis, Director of the Jazz at Lincoln Center. This year 2 of the 5 members of a jazz combo chosen to play at the Grammy Awards, after a nationwide search, were current Interlochen students. Eldar Djangirov and Matt Brewer wowed the Grammy audience with their incredible performance.
Jazz guitar students combine study of the basics of classical guitar with a complete course in jazzimprovisation and participation in the strong student ensembles.
After the workshop Jimmy Bruno gave at IAA he said:
"I was impressed with the caliber of students at IAA. The student rhythm section had the feel of professionals."
One of the unbelievable advantages of this arts school is the high level of academic courses, which help these young artists gain acceptance and scholarship support at fine conservatories, as art majors, or for academic pursuit.
These students and their parents are all very happy with their experiences.
"The Interlochen experience definitely helped me to face the challenges at a conservatory. Actually it is wrong to use the word 'challenges,' because I didn't even have any challenges. I felt like my new school was the continuation of Interlochen," said Emre Yilmaz, freshman at Eastman School of Music.
"I cannot stress enough how good an experience IAA was for me. For the first time I experienced a willingness to attend my classes, actually looking forward to them instead of dreading them. Mr. Wunsch taught me a superior technique. His methods and organized logical ways of explaining things were most beneficial. I can say that I would not be a Peabody or on the conservatory level or even playing the guitar without IAA." Mr. Wunsch provided more than guidance on the instrument, for he helped me see my potential, while striving to be a performer. In my moments of self-doubt, he gave me hope to keep on practicing," said Caitlin Chambers, freshman at Peabody Conservatory."
In addition to their success entering the top schools to further their studies, IAA guitarists are making their mark during the summer festival season. The two youngest students ever accepted into the Rome Chamber Festival were both IAA guitar majors, and the only student to ever receive full scholarship to the National Guitar Summer Workshop was also an IAA guitar major. In addition the only student to be featured in performance at the closing ceremonies of the 1997
Cordoba Festival was also an IAA major.