Overview

Interlochen offers the high school piano student an exceptional opportunity to spend six weeks focusing on solo piano literature and developing collaborative performance skills. Every day, students work closely with faculty and guest artists in literature classes, master classes, studio classes and performance classes. In this supportive community of artists, students practice on one of more than 200 new Kawai pianos or one of the 115 already owned by Interlochen.

Program Details

Weekly private lessons with a member of our distinguished piano faculty.

Daily master classes provide opportunities for piano majors to interact in a performance class, a group lesson, a studio class or a master class with faculty or guest artists. This class also covers special topics such as early keyboard instruments, musician wellness and performance anxiety.

Collaborative piano experiences with other Interlochen musicians are expected, and students are placed into ensembles based on audition. Opportunities include chamber music with strings or winds, collaborations in vocal and instrumental duos, performing as a member of a large Interlochen ensemble, and a chance to develop the necessary sight-reading skills to improve collaborative piano experiences.

Optional organ lessons are available to piano majors. Participating students receive a weekly organ lesson in addition to piano lessons. In place of collaborative piano, these students take music theory and participate in a daily organ seminar, which includes studio class, master classes, coached practicing and church-service playing practice. The organ students practice on one of nine practice instruments located in the organ building or on the 50-rank Aeolian-Skinner located in the Chapel.

Dedicated practice time is available.

Piano Literature, Beginning Organ or Piano Ensemble class are elective options for piano majors.

Additional Electives

Audition Requirements

• Choose two representative solo works of contrasting style, demonstrating tone, technical facility and interpretation.
• Record two solo works of contrasting style on a CD or DVD.
• Submit the audition and label the recording and its casing with the applicant's full name, the program notation "H.S. Piano"and presented repertoire.

Concerto Competition

Interlochen offers a separate Concerto Competition for the High School division. The contest is open to band, orchestra, piano and voice students. The Concerto Competition is highly competitive; only the most advanced students should enter. Winners will perform their concerto with the Interlochen Philharmonic. The preliminary round of the Concerto Competition requires that an applicant submit a recorded video performance on VHS (US format) or preferably on DVD, (postmarked no later than May 1). Finalists will be selected and notified by June 15. The competition will take place during the first week of camp. Competition criteria will be posted on the Interlochen website in late January.