Famous Alumni of Interlochen Arts Academy

Interlochen Center for the Arts, often called ICA or "Inty," is a non-profit institution dedicated to arts education and performance. Founded in 1928 by Joseph E. Maddy, Interlochen is located at 4000 J. Maddy Parkway, Interlochen, Michigan 49643, United States. Its motto reflects its mission: "Dedicated to the promotion of world friendship through the universal language of the arts." This secular institution has grown from a summer camp into a multifaceted center that includes Interlochen Arts Camp, Interlochen Arts Academy, Interlochen Public Radio, Interlochen College of Creative Arts, and Interlochen Online.

The Genesis of Interlochen

The story of Interlochen begins in the 1920s, when Joseph E. Maddy, a conductor and educator, was tasked by the Music Supervisors National Conference with creating a national high school orchestra composed of talented musicians from across the United States. By 1927, Maddy had incorporated the National High School Orchestra Camp and began searching for the perfect location, eventually choosing a site in Michigan.

In 1962, Maddy founded the Interlochen Arts Academy, a pre-professional arts boarding high school. This academy has since become a cornerstone of Interlochen, providing young artists with rigorous training and unparalleled opportunities.

Interlochen Public Radio

Interlochen's commitment to the arts extends beyond its physical campus through Interlochen Public Radio (IPR), a National Public Radio member station. Founded in 1963 as WIAA, Interlochen Public Radio was conceived as an extension of the "Music From Interlochen" program, which aired on NBC radio and informed a broad audience about the National Music Camp and the emerging Interlochen Arts Academy.

Initially broadcasting eight hours per day, the station expanded and became a charter member of National Public Radio. In 1989, Interlochen Public Radio became a network with the addition of WICV. By 1993, it reportedly had one of the highest rates of per capita contributions of any public radio station in the United States.

Today, Interlochen Public Radio broadcasts to most of the lower peninsula of Northern Michigan and parts of eastern Wisconsin. Two listener-supported stations, Classical Music 88.7, 88.5, 94.7 and 100.9 FM, and News Radio 91.5, 90.1 and 89.7 FM, serve northwest Michigan. Broadcasts include arts programming, news, and culture from around the world, as well as local and regional news. The station's classical music service is broadcast from their main tower at WIAA 88.7 FM in Interlochen, along with WIAB 88.5 FM in Mackinaw City, and W234BU 94.7 FM in Traverse City.

National Recognition

In 2006, Interlochen Center for the Arts received the National Medal of Arts, one of the highest honors given by the President of the United States and the National Endowment for the Arts. This award recognizes individuals or institutions that have significantly contributed to the growth and advancement of the arts. Interlochen president emeritus Jeffrey Kimpton accepted the award on behalf of the institution from U.S. President George W. Bush.

Notable Alumni

Interlochen Center for the Arts has a long and distinguished history of producing talented artists who have gone on to achieve great success in their respective fields. Here are some of the most famous Interlochen alumni:

Actors and Actresses

Meredith Baxter: Best known for playing Elyse Keaton on the hit 1980s sitcom "Family Ties," Baxter was a voice major at Interlochen.
Jennifer Ehle: Famous for her role as Elizabeth Bennet in the BBC's "Pride and Prejudice," Ehle attended the academy from 1985-87. She has also won Tony Awards for her work on Broadway.
Tovah Feldshuh: A camp attendee from 1963-65, Feldshuh has several Tony and Emmy nominations.
Barrett Foa: A cast member on "NCIS: Los Angeles," Foa spent his summers at Interlochen studying theatre and has established a musical theatre scholarship at the institution.
Ben Foster: Known for his intense screen presence, Foster attended Interlochen at age 14 and has starred in films such as "X-Men: The Last Stand" and "Hell or High Water."
Felicity Huffman: An Emmy- and Oscar-nominated actress, Huffman attended the Interlochen Academy and was recognized as a Senior Honor Student.
Tom Hulce: Studied acting at Interlochen for a year and is known for his role as Mozart in "Amadeus" and for voicing Quasimodo in Disney's "The Hunchback of Notre Dame."
Linda Hunt: Won an Oscar for her role in "The Year of Living Dangerously" and is known for her role as Hetty Lange on "NCIS: Los Angeles."
Michael McMillian: Attended the academy from 1995-98 and enjoyed roles on HBO’s “True Blood” and “What I Like About You.”
Ashley Park: Known for her portrayal of "Mindy Chen" on the Netflix series "Emily in Paris," Park has also had recurring roles in "Beef" and "Only Murders in the Building" and starred in the film "Joy Ride."
Da'Vine Joy Randolph: Won Academy, BAFTA, and Screen Actors Guild Awards for her performance in "The Holdovers."

Musicians

Ron Blake: A jazz saxophonist, Blake attended Interlochen Arts Camp and Arts Academy.
Stuart Bogie: A clarinetist.
Caleb Burhans:
Angelin Chang: A Grammy Award-winning pianist.
Peter Erskine: A versatile jazz drummer who played with Weather Report, Steps Ahead, and Jaco Pastorius. He attended Interlochen from 1968-71.
Bill Frisell: A premier jazz guitarist who attended Interlochen's summer camp in 1967.
Marshall Gilkes:
Josh Groban: A multi-platinum-selling singer, songwriter, producer, and Broadway star. He attended Interlochen in 2004 and 2013.
David Hattner:
Bruce Johnston: From The Beach Boys.
Norah Jones: A ten-time GRAMMY award winner and Billboard magazine’s top jazz artist of the 2000s. She studied jazz, painting, and sculpture as a summer camper.
Kim Kashkashian: A violist.
Ani Kavafian: A violinist.
Soyeon Kate Lee: A pianist.
Lorin Maazel: A conductor who first conducted the high school orchestra at Interlochen at the age of eight.
Dmitri Matheny:
Timothy McAllister:
Reed Mathis: A bassist.
Anthony McGill: A leading soloist and principal clarinet of the New York Philharmonic.
Sam Pilafian: A tubist.
Charles S. Yang: A violinist.

Comedians

Maria Bamford: A stand-up comic and voice actor who attended Interlochen in 1983.
Ana Gasteyer: Known for her impressions on "Saturday Night Live," Gasteyer studied violin at Interlochen summer camp and has starred in films and TV series.
Ed Helms: Known for his roles in "The Office" and "The Hangover" films, Helms spent the summer of 1991 at Interlochen camp.

Writers and Directors

Vince Gilligan: The creator of "Breaking Bad" and "Better Call Saul," Gilligan attended Interlochen on a scholarship.
Dan Goor: Co-creator of "Brooklyn Nine-Nine," Goor was a theater major at Interlochen.
Cathy Guisewite: Creator of the comic strip "Cathy," Guisewite attended the University of Michigan and worked at Detroit ad agencies.
Allan Heinberg: Screenwriter of "Wonder Woman" and developer, executive producer, and writer for "The Sandman" on Netflix.
Angie Kim: Author of "Miracle Creek" and "Happiness Falls."
Our Lady J: An Emmy-nominated writer, director, and producer, best known for her work on "Pose," "Transparent," and "American Horror Story."
Steve Hayden: Writer Behind Apple's Pivotal '1984' Commercial.
Julie Hinds:
Kat Coiro: Director.

Other Notable Alumni

Chappell Roan: Singer-songwriter and GRAMMY-winner for Best New Artist.
Laura Escudé:
Amy Fote: Principal dancer.
Garth Greenwell:
Christie Hefner: The daughter of Playboy founder Hugh Hefner, she spent summers at Interlochen and later became president of Playboy Enterprises.
Ema H. Horvath:
Norman Korpi:
Larry Page: Co-founder of Google.

Interlochen's Impact

Interlochen Center for the Arts has had a profound impact on the world of arts and culture. Its alumni have achieved success in a wide range of fields, and the institution continues to provide aspiring artists with the training and opportunities they need to pursue their dreams.

Interlochen offers various divisions, including:

Read also: Legacy of Fordham University

Interlochen Arts Camp:
Interlochen Arts Academy: A pre-professional arts school for students by audition only.
Interlochen College of Creative Arts: Offers non-degree arts programs for adults.
Interlochen Public Radio: Offers Northern Michigan programming from NPR and Public Radio International.
Interlochen Presents: A summer festival that features concerts, plays, art exhibits, readings, film screenings, and dance productions.

The Value of an Interlochen Education

With an annual tuition of over $75,000, Interlochen Arts Academy is the most expensive private high school in Michigan. However, many argue that the cost is a worthwhile investment, given the impressive list of alumni who have gone on to achieve great success.

Three alumni-Ginger Lane, Allan Heinberg, and Tovah Feldshuh-attest to Interlochen's transformative power. Ginger Lane, a dancer, choreographer, and disability activist, found hope and artistic development at Interlochen. Allan Heinberg, screenwriter of "Wonder Woman" and "The Sandman," found acceptance and encouragement in his artistic abilities. Tovah Feldshuh, a Broadway actress, found her life's work and partner at Interlochen.

Grammy Awards and Recognition

Interlochen alumni have consistently been recognized for their achievements in the music industry. More than 20 Arts Camp and Arts Academy alumni performed on six Grammy Award-winning albums in 2024, spanning classical, jazz, and roots music genres. Since 1959, Interlochen alumni, faculty, and guest artists have received more than 145 Grammy Awards.

Read also: Baylor's Notable Alumni

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