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Guest Artists at Arts Academy

Guest Artists
Each year, Interlochen Arts Academy welcomes an outstanding lineup of visiting faculty who invest in our students’ lives. Below, meet some of our recent guest artists and scholars.

Featured Guest Artists

Changing lives. Shaping character. Leading by example. Our guest artists come from the most prestigious institutions in the world to share their talents with Interlochen.

Jayne Atkinson-Gill headshot 400x600

Jayne Atkinson-Gill

Guest Artist, Theatre

Bill Banfield headshot 400x600

Dr. Bill Banfield

Guest Artist, Composition

Billy Childs headshot 2 400x600

Billy Childs

Guest Artist, Jazz

Sydney James Harcourt headshot 400x600

Sydney James Harcourt

Instructor of Musical Theatre

Cristian Macelaru

Cristian Măcelaru

Music Director Designate, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

Distinguished Visiting Artist, Shepherd School of Music at Rice University

Music Director, Orchestre National de France

Artistic Director and Principal Conductor, World Youth Symphony Orchestra

Patrice Rushen headshot 400x600

Patrice Rushen

Guest Artist, Jazz

Davone Tines headshot 400x600

Davóne Tines

Guest Artist, Voice

Dawn Upshaw headshot 400x600

Dawn Upshaw

Guest Artist, Voice

Classical Music

Our Classical Music guest artists hail from the world’s finest colleges, universities, and conservatories. Many of them maintain thriving performance careers. They bring their dedication and expertise to every lesson they teach at Interlochen. 

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Liz Ames

Guest Artist, Piano

Anton Armstrong headshot 400x600

Anton Armstrong

Guest Artist, Choir

Bill Banfield headshot 400x600

Dr. Bill Banfield

Guest Artist, Composition

Martin Beaver headshot 400x600

Martin Beaver

Guest Artist, Violin

Gene Berger headshot 400x600

Gene Berger

Guest Artist, Horn

James Box headshot 400x600

James Box

Guest Artist, Trombone

Keith Buncke Headshot

Keith Buncke

Principal Bassoon
Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Michael Burritt headshot 400x600

Michael Burritt

Guest Artist, Percussion

Crispin Campbell

Crispin Campbell

Instructor of Cello

Martin Chalifour

Martin Chalifour

Concertmaster
Los Angeles Philharmonic

Professional headshot of Jeremy Denk

Jeremy Denk

Guest Artist, Piano

Elaine Douvas

Elaine Douvas

Guest Artist, Oboe

Shelly Du headshot 400x600

Shelly Du

Guest Artist, Harp

Ellen Elder headshot 400x600

Ellen Price Elder

Guest Artist, Piano

Amir Eldan headshot 400x600

Amir Eldan

Guest Artist, Cello

Paul Erhard headshot 400x600

Paul Erhard

Guest Artist, Double Bass

Professional headshot of Reena Esmail

Reena Esmail

Guest Artist, Composition

Stacey Gibbs headshot 400x600

Stacey V. Gibbs

Guest Artist, Choir

Elias Goldstein headshot 400x600

Elias Goldstein

Guest Artist, Viola

Gavriel Heine headshot 400x600

Gavriel Heine

Guest Conductor, Interlochen Arts Academy Orchestra

David Holland headshot 400x600

David Holland

Instructor of Viola

Carol Jantsch

Carol Jantsch

Instructor of Low Brass

Wojtek Komsta headshot 400x600

Wojtek Komsta

Guest Artist, Clarinet

Yolanda Kondonassis headshot 400x600

Yolanda Kondonassis

Guest Artist, Harp

Christine Kypriandes headshot 400x600

Christine Kypriandes

Guest Artist, Strings

Jeffrey Lastrapes

Jeffrey Noel Lastrapes

Instructor of Cello, Interlochen Arts Camp

Jodi Levitz headshot 400x600

Jodi Levitz

Guest Artist, Viola

Shuying Li headshot 400x600

Shuying Li

Guest Artist, Composition

Cristian Macelaru

Cristian Măcelaru

Music Director Designate, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

Distinguished Visiting Artist, Shepherd School of Music at Rice University

Music Director, Orchestre National de France

Artistic Director and Principal Conductor, World Youth Symphony Orchestra

Amanda Majeski headshot 400x600

Amanda Majeski

Guest Artist, Voice

Matthew McAllister headshot 400x600

Matthew McAllister

Instructor of Guitar, Interlochen Guitar Institute

Timothy McAllister

Timothy McAllister, D.M.A.

Instructor of Saxophone

Daniel McKelway headshot 400x600

Daniel McKelway

Guest Artist, Clarinet

Diane Monroe headshot 400x600

Diane Monroe

Guest Artist, Violin

Nick Myers headshot 400x600

Nick Myers

Guest Artist, Double Bass

Newphonia Ensemble

Newphonia Ensemble

Guest Artists, Music

Jan Opalach headshot 400x600

Jan Opalach

Guest Artist, Voice

Ava Ordman

Ava Ordman

Instructor of Trombone, Symphonic Band Camp

Awadagin Pratt headshot 400x600

Awadagin Pratt

Guest Artist, Piano

Shruthi Rajasekar headshot 400x600

Shruthi Rajasekar

Guest Artist, Songwriting and Theatre

Jeremy Reynolds headshot 400x600

Jeremy Reynolds

Guest Artist, Clarinet

Raimundo Pineda Rodriquez headshot 400x600

Raimundo Pineda Rodriquez

Guest Artist, Flute and Composition

Lenny Schranze

Lenny Schranze

Instructor of Viola

Alexis Smith headshot 400x600

Alexis Smith

Guest Artist, Trombone

Olivia Staton headshot 400x600

Olivia Staton

Guest Artist, Flute

Peter Steiner headshot 400x600

Peter Steiner

Guest Artist, Trombone

Daniel Sweaney

Daniel Sweaney

Instructor of Viola

Professional portrait of Joan Tower

Joan Tower

Composer in Residence

Dawn Upshaw headshot 400x600

Dawn Upshaw

Guest Artist, Voice

James VanDemark headshot 400x600

James VanDenmark

Guest Artist, Double Bass

Lembi Veskimets headshot 400x600

Lembi Veskimets

Guest Artist, Viola

Hai-Xin Wu headshot 400x600

Hai-Xin Wu

Guest Artist, Violin

Doug Yeo headshot 400x600

Doug Yeo

Guest Artist, Trombone

Roger Bobo

Guest Artist, Brass

Contemporary Music

Contemporary Music guest artists are virtuosos in their respective instruments. Whether they’re teaching jazz piano or popular voice performance, these artists dedicate themselves to excellence in the classroom and beyond. 

The Accidentals

The Accidentals

Guest Artists, Music

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Ruby Amanfu

Guest Artist, Contemporary Music

Olga Amelkina-Vera headshot 400x600

Olga Amelkina-Vera

Guest Artist, Guitar

Ian Antonio headshot 400x600

Ian Antonio

Guest Artist, Percussion

Beth Nielsen Chapman headshot 400x600

Beth Nielsen Chapman

Guest Artist, Music

Billy Childs headshot 2 400x600

Billy Childs

Guest Artist, Jazz

Claud headshot 400x600

Claud

Guest Artist, Singer-Songwriter

Gwen Dease headshot 400x600

Gwen Dease

Guest Artist, Percussion

Andrew Dost adjunct faculty at Interlochen Arts Academy

Andrew Dost

Guest Artist, Singer-Songwriter

Marcus Elliot headshot 400x600

Marcus Elliot

Guest Artist, Saxophone

Ilmar Gavilán headshot 400x600

Ilmar Gavilán

Guest Artist, Violin

Orlando Jacinto Garcia headshot 400x600

Orlando Jacinto Garcia

Guest Artist, Composition

Professional photo of five musicians

Imani Winds

Guest Artists, Music

Katerina Gimon headshot 400x600

Katerina Gimon

Guest Artist, Voice and Composing

Professional headshot of Julie Gunn

Julie Gunn

Guest Artist, Voice

Professional headshot of Nathan Gunn

Nathan Gunn

Guest Artist, Voice

Sydney James Harcourt headshot 400x600

Sydney James Harcourt

Instructor of Musical Theatre

Sean Hickey headshot 400x600

Sean Hickey

Guest Artist, Music

Ross Karre headshot 400x600

Ross Karre

Guest Artist, Percussion

Theo Katzman headshot 400x600

Theo Katzman

Guest Artist, Voice

Leilehua Lanzilotti headshot 400x600

Anne Leilehua Lanzilotti

Guest Artist, Music

Aldo López-Gavilán headshot 400x600

Aldo López-Gavilán

Guest Artist, Piano

Ben McIlwain headshot 400x600

Ben McIlwain

Guest Artist, Trombone

Scott Ney headshot 400x600

Scott Ney

Guest Artist, Percussion

Kenji Omae headshot 400x600

Kenji Omae

Guest Artist, Saxophone

Nick Papador headshot 400x600

Nick Papador

Guest Artist, Percussion

Joanna Pascale headshot 400x600

Joanna Pascale

Guest Artist, Voice

Kim Richey headshot 400x600

Kim Richey

Guest Artist, Music

Patrice Rushen headshot 400x600

Patrice Rushen

Guest Artist, Jazz

Simeon Scheuber-Rush headshot 400x600

Simeon Scheuber-Rush

Guest Artist, Trombone

Jessica Shand headshot 400x600

Jessica Shand

Guest Artist, Ensembles

Maia Sharp headshot 400x600

Maia Sharp

Guest Artist, Voice

Jon Thornton headshot 400x600

Jon Thornton

Guest Artist, Music Production

Anthony Tidd headshot 400x600

Anthony Tidd

Guest Artist, Jazz and Music Production & Engineering

Trousdale Band

Trousdale Band

Guest Artists, Music

Creative Writing

The poets, novelists, and essayists who comprise our Creative Writing guest artists have published their work in leading journals. Their technical ability and knowledge of the publishing world prepare their students for success. 

Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

Guest Artist, Creative Writing

Professional headshot of Mona Awad

Mona Awad

Guest Artist, Creative Writing

Andre Bradford headshot 400x600

S.C. Says

Instructor, Interlochen Spoken Word Intensive

Alice Bolin headshot 400x600

Alice Bolin

Guest Artist, Creative Writing

Tove Danovich headshot 400x600

Tove Danovich

Guest Artist, Creative Writing

Jack Driscoll headshot 400x600

Jack Driscoll

Guest Artist, Creative Writing

Ross Gay headshot 400x600

Ross Gay

Guest Artist, Creative Writing

Dan Hornsby headshot 400x600

Dan Hornsby

Guest Artist, Creative Writing

Caitlyn Horrocks headshot 400x600

Caitlyn Horrocks

Guest Artist, Creative Writing

Professional headshot of Ilya Kaminsky

Ilya Kaminsky

Guest Artist, Creative Writing

Mackenzi Lee

Mackenzi Lee

Instructor of Creative Writing

Carmen Maria Machado headshot 400x600

Carmen Maria Machado

Guest Artist, Creative Writing

Adrian Matejka headshot 400x600

Adrian Matejka

Guest Artist, Creative Writing

Anne-Marie Oomen

Anne-Marie Oomen

Instructor of Creative Writing, Interlochen College of Creative Arts

Professional headshot of Karen Russell

Karen Russell

Guest Artist, Creative Writing

Aisha Sabatini Sloan headshot 400x600

Aisha Sabatini Sloan

Guest Artist, Creative Writing

Professional headshot of Jia Tolentino

Jia Tolentino

Guest Artist, Creative Writing

Angela Woodward headshot 400x600

Angela Woodward

Guest Artist, Creative Writing

Josh Malerman

Guest Artist, Creative Writing

Dance

Trained at the finest schools, Interlochen Arts Academy guest artists of Dance draw from decades of experience working with companies around the world. Their international backgrounds give them profound insights that help perfect students’ technique.

Shura Baryshnikov headshot 400x600

Shura Baryshnikov

Guest Artist, Dance

Alfonso Cervera headshot 400x600

Alfonso Cervera

Guest Artist, Dance

Kenya Clay headshot 400x600

Kenya Clay

Guest Artist, Dance

Anna-Marie Holmes headshot 400x600

Anna-Marie Holmes

Guest Artist, Dance

Tamara King headshot 400x600

Tamara King

Guest Artist, Dance

Alexei Moskalenko headshot 400x600

Alexei Moskalenko

Guest Artist, Dance

Melanie Person headshot 400x600

Melanie Person

Guest Artist, Dance

Michelle Ramos headshot 400x600

Michelle Ramos

Guest Artist, Dance

Yoshito Sakuraba headshot 400x600

Yoshito Sakuraba

Guest Artist, Dance

Susan Shields headshot 400x600

Susan Shields

Guest Artist, Dance

Noelle Partusch

Guest Artist, Dance

Sarah Wroth headshot 400x600

Sarah Wroth

Guest Artist, Dance

Film & New Media

Our Film & New Media guest artists lead vibrant careers as producers, directors, editors, and screenwriters. Many feature their films in festivals and events all over the country. 

Margaret Byrne headshot 400x600

Margaret Byrne

Guest Artist, Film & New Media

Miida Chu headshot 400x600

Miida Chu

Guest Artist, Film & New Media

Roger Deakins headshot 400x600

Roger Deakins

Guest Artist, Film & New Media

Eric Deggans headshot 400x600

Eric Deggans

Guest Artist, Film & New Media

Laura Donney

Laura Donney

Guest Artist, Film & New Media

Mike Gioulakis headshot 400x600

Mike Gioulakis

Guest Artist, Film & New Media

Allan Heinberg headshot 400x600

Allan Heinberg

Guest Artist, Film & New Media

Marcia Jarmel headshot 400x600

Marcia Jarmel

Guest Artist, Film & New Media

Al Martin headshot 400x600

Al Martin

Guest Artist, Film & New Media

Yvett Merino headshot 400x600

Yvett Merino

Guest Artist, Film & New Media

Andrew Millstein

Andrew Milstein

Guest Artist, Film & New Media

A dark-haired woman wearing a white button-down shirt and jeans gazes at the viewer.

Julia Pott

Guest Artist, Film & New Media

Ken Schneider headshot 400x600

Ken Schneider

Guest Artist, Film & New Media

Larkin Seiple headshot 400x600

Larkin Seiple

Guest Artist, Film & New Media

David Siev headshot 400x600

David Siev

Guest Artist, Film & New Media

Lynn Tomlinson headshot 400x600

Lynn Tomlinson

Guest Artist, Film & New Media

Professional headshot of Troy Quane

Troy Quane

Guest Artist, Film & New Media

Interdisciplinary Arts

Guest artists in Interdisciplinary Arts combine experience in a variety of disciplines—from dance to musical theatre to creative writing—to provide unique perspectives on the creative life. Under their guidance, students explore new possibilities through designing, producing, and devising original work.

Sydney James Harcourt headshot 400x600

Sydney James Harcourt

Instructor of Musical Theatre

Michael Spencer Phillips headshot 400x600

Michael Spencer Phillips

Guest Artist, Dance

Jennifer Steinorth headshot 400x600

Jennifer Steinorth

Guest Artist, Interdisciplinary Arts

Theatre

Our guest artists in Theatre are seasoned performers. Their range encompasses all styles and varieties of theatre from classical to modern dramatic repertoire and musicals. Experts in teaching their craft, they help young artists build meaningful connections with their audiences. 

Jayne Atkinson-Gill headshot 400x600

Jayne Atkinson-Gill

Guest Artist, Theatre

Michel Atkinson-Gill headshot 400x600

Michel Atkinson-Gill

Guest Artist, Theatre

Jacklyn Backhaus headshot 400x600

Jacklyn Backhaus

Guest Artist, Theatre

Morgan Breon headshot 400x600

Morgan Breon

Guest Artist, Theatre

Cate Caplin headshot 400x600

Cate Caplin

Guest Artist, Theatre

Professional headshot of Lolita Chakrabarti

Lolita Chakrabarti

Guest Artist, Theatre

Kat Coiro headshot 400x600

Kat Coiro

Guest Artist, Theatre

Rhys Coiro headshot 400x600

Rhys Coiro

Guest artist, Theatre

JoAnne Cook headshot 400x600

JoAnne Cook

Guest Artist, Theatre

Professional headshot of Rodney Cottier

Rodney Cottier

Guest Artist, Theatre

Dana Edell headshot 400x600

Dana Edell

Guest Artist, Theatre

Sol Garre headshot 400x600

Sol Garre

Guest Artist, Theatre

Jarvis George headshot 400x600

Jarvis George

Guest Artist, Acting

Adam Gwon headshot 400x600

Adam Gwon

Guest Artist, Theatre

Anjanette Hall headshot 400x600

Anjanette Hall

Guest Artist, Theatre

Professional portrait of Peter Lawrence

Peter Lawrence

Guest Artist, Theatre

Maria Mileaf headshot 400x600

Maria Mileaf

Guest Artist, Theatre

Rick Oliver headshot 400x600

Ricky Oliver

Guest Artist, Theatre

Professional headshot of Geoffrey Owens

Geoffrey Owens

Guest Artist, Theatre

Sue Pak headshot 400x600

Sue Pak

Guest Artist, Theatre

Alexandra Silber headshot 400x600

Alexandra Silber

Guest Artist, Theatre

Tyler Thomas headshot 400x600

Tyler Thomas

Guest Artist, Theatre

Professional headshot of Toni Trucks

Toni Trucks

Guest Artist, Theatre

Professional headshot of Brent Wagner

Brent Wagner

Guest Artist, Theatre

Annmarie Davis

Guest Artist, Theatre

Visual Arts

Our Visual Arts guest artists have a passion for training the next generation of artists. Skilled in mediums as diverse as oil paint and metal, they've served as museum curators and exhibited their work in symposiums, galleries, art fairs, and more.

Zahra Almajidi headshot 400x600

Zahra Almajidi

Guest Artist, Visual Arts

Headshot of Valerie Dillon

Valerie Dillon

Guest Artist, Visual Arts

Elaine Gurian headshot 400x600

Elaine Gurian

Guest Artist, Visual Arts

Lauren Kalman headshot 400x600

Lauren Kalman

Guest Artist, Visual Arts

Oaklee Thiele headshot 400x600

Oaklee Thiele

Guest Artist, Visual Arts

Christopher Wray-McCann headshot 400x600

Christopher Wray-McCann

Guest Artist, Visual Arts

Professional headshot of James Volkert

James Volkert

Guest Artist, Visual Arts

Professional photo of Bill Zheng

Bill Zheng

Guest Artist, Visual Arts

Dive deeper into Interlochen Arts Academy with a free digital viewbook

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In our free informational booklet, you'll learn more about: 

  • Each of our seven arts areas 
  • Renowned faculty 
  • College-preparatory academics 
  • Student resources 
  • How to apply and financial aid information 
  • And more

Experience the Destination for Young Artists

At Interlochen, students transform passion and potential into purpose. Explore more about Interlochen Arts Academy.

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