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Music Production & Engineering at Arts Academy


Why Study Music Production & Engineering

Take your love of music, technology, and production to the next level. Here, you'll gain a strong technical and artistic foundation to bring you one step closer to a future in music.

What You’ll Learn

As a Music Production & Engineering major, you'll take a combination of production and recording courses, seminars, and labs. You'll collaborate with students across disciplines to create professional-caliber projects. You'll also explore current practices and innovation in music.

Your knowledgeable instructors will serve as mentors, technological experts, and career coaches. They will demonstrate how to master production tools so you can find your own style and voice. They will also help you as you think about your future, providing guidance in the college search or offering other career alternatives.

As a student at our boarding school for music production and engineering, you will:

  • Create, produce, and engineer music in a variety of acoustic, electronic, and hybrid styles
  • Mix live ensemble and electronically produced music
  • Perform multitrack recording, overdubbing, editing and mixing using digital audio systems
  • Lead a creative project from idea inception to final delivery
  • Coordinate and supervise a studio recording session
  • Evaluate audio material and make technical and aesthetic decisions
  • Communicate and time-manage in the context of multidisciplinary productions
  • Create a professional portfolio

How to Apply

Core Curriculum

Audition Requirements

For information on graduation requirements and academic curriculum, please visit Academy Academics.

Program Specialties

  • Signal flow and acoustics
  • Studio recording
  • On-location live recording
  • Fluency in Pro Tools
  • Extensive experience with analog recording gear 
  • Weekly project time in The Goop, our world-class student recording studio
  • Artistic collaborations with Singer-Songwriter, Film & New Media, Musical Theatre, and Dance Divisions
  • Music programming with other popular Digital Audio Workstations like Logic and Ableton 
  • Familiarity with the characteristics of popular music genres
  • Earn credits as an assistant engineer on regionally and nationally released professional recordings
  • Produce and create content for a regional podcast in conjunction with Interlochen Public Radio

Meet the Faculty

Interlochen Arts Academy students have access to some of the world's leading arts educators. Learn more about our Music Production & Engineering faculty or browse our directory.

All Faculty

Marc Lacuesta

Marc Lacuesta

Director of Music Production & Engineering

Joshua Hoisington

Joshua Hoisington

Instructor of Music Production & Engineering

Get to know Rosie

"I am so passionate about what I do—and I knew that staying home wasn't going to be enough for me. So, I made the choice to come to Interlochen." Rosie, Music Production & Engineering

Guest Artists

  • Ruby Amanfu, Grammy-nominated songwriter
  • Sam Ashworth, Grammy-nominated songwriter
  • Jim Bonney, BAFTA-winning video game music composer
  • Jeanine Cowen, Berklee College of Music
  • Laura Karpman, Emmy-nominated film composer and Interlochen alumna
  • Tim Lauer, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, producer
  • Makeba Riddick, Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter

Program Highlights

The Music Center

Our state-of-the-art 60,000 square-foot music facility has two 3,500 square-foot rehearsal halls, two recording studios which allow for rehearsal and performance recordings in multiple venues on campus with multiple ensemble and practice rooms, and individual faculty teaching studios. Learn more about The Music Center.

Live Music Sessions

While at Interlochen, you will have the opportunity to work with your fellow students to record live music. Test your skills with a variety of recording techniques using top-of-the-line tools and technology.

College Matriculation

Recent Interlochen Arts Academy Music Division students have continued their education at the following institutions and beyond.

  • Belmont University
  • Berklee College of Music
  • California Institute of the Arts
  • Detroit Institute of the Arts
  • Full Sail University
  • Indiana University
  • Institute of Contemporary Performance
  • Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts
  • Los Angeles College of Music
  • Loyola University New Orleans
  • Musicians Institute
  • The New School
  • New York University
  • Syracuse University
  • University of Colorado
  • University of Hartford
  • University of Miami
  • University of Southern California

Dive deeper into Interlochen Arts Academy with a free digital viewbook

Academy 2025 Viewbook Graphic

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

See what you can experience at Interlochen.

Come to a high school where young creatives thrive—and see how your unique journey unfolds. Plan your visit, request more information, or apply to Interlochen Arts Academy today.