2007 Interlochen Guitar Institute
The excitement of the Interlochen Guitar Institute's inaugural in August 2006 is only exceeded by the amazing success and growth that has resulted in our expanded second year's offering. With twice as many classical and jazz masters on the faculty providing significantly more offerings in those areas, and the presence of acoustic giant Leo Kottke spearheading the acoustic guitar concert series, we have added a rock and blues faculty that includes members of the bands of Kid Rock, Kenny Loggins, The Miami Sound Machine, Gloria Estafan and Son Seals. With them on board we have scheduled courses in blues, rock, slide, recording, arranging, music business and world music to complement our courses in technique, reading, scale visualization, flamenco, instrument construction and instrument maintenance.
Do not miss this exciting opportunity to learn more in all these areas under the high quality standards which have made Interlochen famous throughout the world of music. Every night closes with inspiring and exciting concerts by our talented Guitar Institute faculty and guest performers, free to workshop participants. Concert tickets are available for the public to purchase.
We invite first time beginners through advanced professionals and non playing aficionados to enjoy this experience on our beautiful wooded lakeside campus. All levels of ability are welcome: advanced, intermediate and beginning. Rental guitars will be available for "first time beginners." Non playing aficionados are welcome to audit any and all offerings, standard registration fees will apply.
Please click here to view program highlights from the 2007 Interlochen Guitar Institute.
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Special Announcement:
The institute directors are please to announce that Leo Kottke will be the featured performer on the Thursday, August 23 concert.
Faculty/Performers
John Wunsch (technique), Jason Vieaux (classical), Martha Masters (classical), Emre Yilmaz (flamenco), Gene Bertoncini (jazz), Howard Alden (jazz), Kenny Olson (rock 'n' roll), John DeFaria (slide guitar skills and recording techniques for acoustic and classical guitar), Stoll Vaughn (songwriting and music business), Pablo Signori (rock and pop styles), Jeff "Jabo" Bihlman (blues), Armin Kelly (hand made instruments), Randall Kohl (world music and Slack key) Lee Dyament (chord melody and Brazilian music), Brad DeRoche (technique and 19th century masters), John Stropes (acoustic styles) Lynn Wiles (scale concepts and business) and Dan Kelchak (instrument repairs and maintenance.
Click here to read a message from the Guitar Institute Director John Wunsch.
Guitar Institute Director
John has combined his folk roots, classical training and jazz experience to specialize in solo guitar performances which include a wide range of music from classical tangos and malagueñas to bluesy renditions of popular music, jazz standards and gospel-tinged versions of hymns. His original compositions include rhythmic Latin-inspired music, unique fingerstyle 12-string pieces and heartfelt ballads.
John has released seven recordings and toured extensively, appearing in Europe and Japan as well as the United States. He has appeared in such venues as the Newport Jazz festival, the New York Seagram’s Festival, The Philadelphia Seaport Festival, Blues Alley and the Blue Note. He has been nominated three times for the “Best Instrumental” category of the New York Music Awards and received numerous grants from Meet the Composer, New York State Council for the Arts, Arts Serve and The Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, among others.
John is currently the Instructor of Guitar at the Interlochen Arts Academy and the Director of the Interlochen Guitar Institute. He formerly served as Music Theory Instructor at the North Carolina School of the Arts, Guitar Instructor at Oakland University and Director of Guitar Studies at Northwestern Michigan College. He studied with Jesus Silva, Nicholas Goluses, Fred Hand, Oswald Rantucci and in master classes with Maestro Andrés Segovia, Janos Starker and David Russell.
His music has been featured on NPR's All Things Considered, network television’s Entertainment Tonight and in films and documentaries in both the United States and Europe. He has shared performance billings with B.B. King, Dave Brubeck, Kilimanjaro, Special EFX and others. Critics have described John’s work as "Pure enjoyment…" (Baltimore Evening Sun), "Extraordinarily original" (Boston Globe), "First rate!” (Guitar Player Magazine) and "Subtle and elegant... especially sensitive..." (Frets Magazine).
Institute Enrollment: Enrollment is currently closed at this time.
Registration Deadline: Registration is currently closed at this time.
Housing and Meals: Lodging is available on the Interlochen campus on a first-come, first-served basis. Accommodations range from residence hall rooms to housekeeping cottages at a variety of rates. Meals also may be taken on-campus. Please contact Housing at (231) 276-7570 for more information and off-campus options (hotels, B&Bs, Interlochen State Park).
