Interlochen returns to the White House

Each of us has experienced one of those moments in time, a sense of deja vu or an epiphany, a fleeting, almost mystical few seconds in which the past and present merge briefly to give us a glimpse of the future. These rare moments often are sparked by a great artistic, religious, political or emotional experience that crystallizes something into an unforgettable moment.

My moment in time occurred in the Oval Office of the White House, as President and Mrs. Bush awarded the National Medal of Arts to Interlochen. The November day was warm, sunlight streamed through the French doors from the Rose Garden, and each individual presentation before the Resolute Desk was intimate, personal and emotional for all of us. President and Mrs. Bush, in the gently and deeply respectful way in which they so personally honored each American artist, helped us realize that we were truly symbols for the nation's artists.

During these rare 25 minutes, something else took place, a strange collection of thoughts that flashed before my eyes as I thought about the significance of this award for Interlochen.

I thought about the eight decades of hard work, struggle, triumph and achievement that is the history of Interlochen. Looking out the windows toward the South Lawn, I remembered that in 1962 Joe Maddy had been just a few feet from where I was sitting when he brought Interlochen musicians and ballet dancers to perform at the White House for President and Mrs. John F. Kennedy. I thought of the model arts organization that Interlochen has become for the nation, and of the hundreds of thousands of people whose lives have been touched, molded and enriched by our work. As Board of Trustees Chair Gerald Fischer and Tyler Hodges, a 2006 Academy alumnus and Presidential Scholar in the Arts, joined me for the presentation, they represented the great people who have been a part of the Interlochen story through the years: teachers, students, parents, committed philanthropists and donors, staff, listeners and audience members. Together, they have forged one of the truly exceptional arts communities in the world.

After the presentation, the significance of the event hit home for me; of all the tens of thousands of arts organizations that enrich the lives of Americans, Interlochen was the one organization chosen to represent so many others.

This issue of Crescendo celebrates the achievement of being awarded the National Medal of Arts, but more importantly, it honors the creativity, passion and energy that have been poured into this arts community during the past 80 years.

Jeffrey S. Kimpton
President