Topic - DEI (368)

A safe and supportive environment: Find out how Interlochen helps international students thrive as they study the arts (Stories 627963)

marycaroline.whims@interlochen.org — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 18:23:17 +0000

A safe and supportive environment: Find out how Interlochen helps international students thrive as they study the arts (Stories 627963) marycaroline.w… Wed, 04/16/2025 - 14:23 A safe and supportive environment: Find out how Interlochen helps international students thrive as they study the artsStudents and staff members share insights into Interlochen’s vibrant international community, including student groups and special celebrations.

Mwila Keso (IAA 22-23) shares about her home country of Zambia at Interlochen's annual Culture Fair. Photo credit: Eileen Ganter

April 16, 2025

In a rapidly changing world, it can feel like a daunting decision to study the arts internationally. But for many students who come to Interlochen Arts Academy, it’s a choice that feels like coming home. Experienced, compassionate faculty and staff members help students work through any adjustments that may arise when coming over to the United States. And a variety of student groups and events make it easier than ever to form lasting connections within a diverse student body.

Experienced, dedicated faculty members

Every international student’s journey at Interlochen starts with a connection to Kalyn Rabuse, International Student Services Manager. She’s been at Interlochen since 2017 and doesn’t let a day go by without helping international students adjust to life on Interlochen's campus. Passionate about bringing global perspectives to the wider campus community, she’s earned a reputation for her caring and knowledge.

“Kalyn is like my second mom,” says Assyl Rassulkyzy, a second-year senior from Kazakhstan. “I feel like I can knock on her door if I need to talk about anything. She's the kind of person who genuinely wants to know about the students that she works with.”

Rabuse has extensive experience in international relations, which allows her to bring both confidence and compassion to her work with students. Prior to Interlochen, she spent time at Vanderbilt University, advising education professionals from developing countries and emerging democracies. She has also worked with several organizations to design and implement short term exchange programs.

Since coming to Interlochen, Rabuse has maintained strong lines of communication with international families. Every few weeks, she curates an email newsletter to help them stay informed and included in campus happenings. She also runs a pre-arrival course for all international students, so they feel equipped to take on the excitement and challenges of life at a new school. Rabuse stays up to date on the latest language technology: international families are able to work with phone interpreters and Zoom’s new realtime translation feature.

“Interlochen's international students are an integral part of our campus community,” says Rabuse. “Their personal perspectives, artistic talents, and diverse backgrounds enrich all of our lives and help our community grow and learn. We want every single one of them to feel accepted at Interlochen and confident in how extraordinary they are.”

Rabuse partners with several other departments including Academic and College Counseling, Personal Counseling, and Residence Life—providing international students with comprehensive support. On the Admissions team, Jaime Weidner assists international students as they navigate the visa process.

Enthusiastic student support

It’s not just the staff and faculty helping international students find success at Interlochen. Incoming students will find that their peers are passionate supporters, too. Arts Academy has an International Student Union (founded by Zambian student Mwila Keso) and numerous student identity groups including Asian Student Union, Latin Student Union, Black Student Union, and the Women of Color club. These groups provide valuable leadership opportunities for international students. They also host events designed to bring the entire campus community together and celebrate students from all over the world.

Each residence hall also has an international student liaison—a current student who helps support their peers as they adjust to life at Interlochen. Each residence hall hosts its own cultural awareness programming, so students feel safe and supported in their new homes on campus.

Students also enjoy several special days set aside for celebrating their identities. Each year, international students put on three events: the Culture Fair (showcasing customs and traditions from around the globe), the International Food Fair (where international students serve up their favorite cuisine from home to share with the student body) and the Global Performances Community Meeting (where students share music and performance art from their home countries). These events have been running for years and are always well-attended.

Throughout the year, students have access to spaces for prayer and religious celebrations, so they can express their faiths in ways that feel true to them.

A vision for community integration

Any school can provide separate programs for international students, but it takes a very special community to ensure that everyone is fully integrated and flourishing. Interlochen’s international programs are driven by this unifying vision.

“Each student has their own unique place at Interlochen, and they are welcomed exactly as they are,” said Rabuse. “International students are our campus community, and we’re intentional about creating opportunities to share and celebrate their cultures and personal voices.”

As they experience the welcoming warmth of Interlochen’s community, students are equipped to pursue their artistic gifts to the fullest.

“I really like the inclusive, supportive, and kind community vibe here,” says Yoyo Jiang, a third-year senior from China. “Nobody is discouraging you. Everybody wants to hear more about what you enjoy doing and what you’re excited about.”

With dedicated faculty, annual events, and passionate student support, Interlochen is the best arts boarding school for international students.

16% of Arts Academy students are international students. Learn more about becoming an international student at Arts Academy.

Keys to happiness: Emmy-nominated composer Levi Taylor keeps the focus on community (Stories 627483)

marycaroline.whims@interlochen.org — Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:12:55 +0000

Keys to happiness: Emmy-nominated composer Levi Taylor keeps the focus on community (Stories 627483) marycaroline.w… Thu, 02/20/2025 - 13:12 Keys to happiness: Emmy-nominated composer Levi Taylor keeps the focus on community The multitalented Arts Academy alumnus has composed for projects including Shark Week and a new opera focused on Black resilience. February 20, 2025

Many composers seem to have a “sweet spot” of music where they truly excel, but Levi Taylor (IAA 99) is unusually hard to pin down. If you’re a beginning pianist, you might hear his tunes on the backing tracks you use during practice. You also might hear his melodies gracing Discovery Channel’s Shark Week, or sit down in one of the nation's most famous performing arts centers to watch his new opera The Seer.

Variety is Taylor’s strong suit, and it makes sense—raised in Black gospel churches, he has since embarked on a genre-crossing musical career that’s taken him from Japan to Ann Arbor to Los Angeles. Strengthened by his time under the stately pines, Taylor brings relentless determination to his work, along with an infectious passion for investing in local communities.

Growing up gospel

Taylor grew up in Belleville, Michigan and knew from an early age that he wanted to be a composer. His sense of music was deeply informed by time spent listening to R&B, Motown, and jazz, plus many years in his family’s church.

“There was a portion of the service where the pastor would say, ‘Does anybody have anything they want to share?’” Taylor remembers. “And someone would stand up and say ‘I want to sing a song.’ They’d start singing a song that nobody had ever heard of before. But all the musicians would play along, and before you knew it, the entire church was jamming.”

Taylor had a strong ear for music and would frequently spend hours at the piano teaching himself how to play songs he’d heard. Self-taught in composition for many years, he nevertheless earned national awards for his writing at the NAACPs ACT-SO competition. It wasn’t until his senior year of high school that he took his very first composition lesson at Interlochen Arts Academy. There, his teacher introduced him to composers like Ravel, Barber, and Rachmaninoff.

Compared to the soulful, improvisational music of the church, the discipline and structure required by classical composition felt like a “whole new world”. But Taylor knew he wanted to pursue it. Upon graduation, he charted a course for Millikin University to continue his studies.

The road to success

“Interlochen absolutely prepared me for college,” Taylor notes. Used to spending hours in the practice room, he had no problem adjusting to the rhythms of higher education and soon distinguished himself as a James Millikin Honors Scholar. After graduation, Taylor taught English in Japan for several years, then spent time in Ann Arbor. He played piano with a Gospel choir and a blues band, and also established a thriving business teaching piano to young students. But his passion for composition remained. The only question was how to turn his gift into a living.

Things started looking up for Taylor when he was called to write the score for the film Me, The “Other”. Soon after that, a producer from the University of Michigan invited him to compose music for the school’s bicentennial, and a chance conference connection led to a job writing sheet music for Faber. Then, Taylor’s big break came when he started working with talent agent Randy Gerston, who also represents composers like Jeff Russo (Fargo, Star Trek), and Emmy-winning Academy alumnus Joel McNeely (A Million Ways to Die in the West).

His reputation firmly established, Taylor decided to take the leap and move to Los Angeles—where he enjoyed a wealth of new musical connections, including many friends and alumni of Interlochen.

Levi Taylor in his composition studio.

Coming together through music

Since his move to L.A., Taylor has continued to shine as a composer for film and television. In October 2024, he won the Sphinx Foundation’s Emerging Composer award. In January of this year, his opera The Seer, which tells the story of an ambitious young Black office worker in Detroit, premiered at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Taylor was chosen to be a part of The Cartography Project: Black Futures in part because of his investment in local communities: he was a board member for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Washtenaw County, and he also masterminded a free piano program for youth in Ann Arbor.

“I want to focus on something bigger than myself and my ego,” he says.

Taylor says he’s inspired by memories of growing up with neighbors who were Black Panthers or were active in groups like the NAACP.

“These groups were all about community, about people coming together and doing good for one another,” he says. “For me, it's all about creating access—whether that’s piano lessons, opportunities, or even basic nutrition. I firmly believe in that kind of community.”

For students from diverse backgrounds all over the nation, Taylor offers a striking example of what it looks like to pursue and realize dreams of success in the music world. With skills learned at Interlochen and beyond, Taylor has been able to build a life doing what he loves and making a difference while doing it. All he needed was a few good connections and a little luck. The keys to happiness have always been within reach.

Adventure of a lifetime: Producer and Army vet Dwjuan Fox seeks humanitarian justice at home and abroad (Stories 627406)

marycaroline.whims@interlochen.org — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 20:28:29 +0000

Adventure of a lifetime: Producer and Army vet Dwjuan Fox seeks humanitarian justice at home and abroad (Stories 627406) marycaroline.w… Wed, 01/29/2025 - 15:28 Adventure of a lifetime: Producer and Army vet Dwjuan Fox seeks humanitarian justice at home and abroadFrom studying visual arts at Arts Academy to commanding tanks in South Korea, Fox has seen it all. A life lived both within and beyond the arts has given him a unique perspective on what it means to help other humans in need.

Producer and Army vet Dwjuan Fox relaxes during a trip to Venice.

January 29, 2025

For Dwjuan Fox (IAA 87-89), the best way to live your life is to let it flow and see where it takes you. One look at the Detroit native’s biography proves that life has taken him in myriad directions: he’s an Interlochen alumnus, family man, Army veteran, visual artist, and gifted film producer who runs his own production company, Decipher Entertainment. Throughout the many twists and turns of Fox’s career, he’s remained true to his love for adventure and heart for humanitarian needs. He shares his journey through Interlochen Arts Academy and beyond—from making movies with Star Wars legend Mark Hamill to maneuvering people and gear across the globe to make a film about the diplomats who opposed Hitler’s genocide.

Discovering his style at Interlochen

For Fox, who came to Interlochen as a junior and studied visual arts, Interlochen was the perfect training ground for a life of creativity. Under the stately pines, Fox challenged himself academically, tackled issues he felt passionate about, and completely transformed his artistic style.

“I used to learn from a public school history textbook with torn pages and writing all over it,” Fox remembers. “Then I walked into my first history class at Interlochen, and they dropped Machiavelli's The Prince in front of me. That's a big difference.”

During his education in the visual arts, Fox learned to express deeply-held emotions and shed light on issues happening in the world around him.

“I was at Interlochen during apartheid, so a lot of my work dealt with injustice and being an African-American in the U.S. or being an African-American in the world,” he says. “I wanted to get people thinking about society and evoke powerful emotions through abstraction.”

As he soon discovered, Fox’s years at Interlochen put him several strides ahead of his artistic peers.

“When I got to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, the kids who were coming from the public schools were still learning things that I had already learned,” he reflects.

Fox experienced another important shift around this time. Instead of pursuing the visual arts, as he’d originally planned, he started expressing his ideas through film.

“I realized that I could tell a better story if I had more frames to work with as opposed to just one,” he says.

Fox (far right) with fellow crew members in Giza, Egypt.

Chasing adventure, fighting for justice

Fox’s course for the future was effectively set. After college, he began working his way up from being a production assistant to earning producer credits on over 35 films. But midway through his production career, he felt called to leave it all behind and do something completely different.

“I’d just done a documentary in Egypt where we had an amazing adventure—being chased by the Egyptian military after we tried to get a sunrise shot of the pyramids before they were open to the public,” he reminisces. “I’d also moved down to Atlanta and was doing wilderness survival training with one of my Interlochen buddies. I felt that life was a great adventure, so I started looking into the military.”

It wasn’t just the desire for thrills that motivated him. Fox wanted to do his part and make a difference.

Fox stands in his Army uniform for an official portrait.

“ My work had always had a humanitarian consciousness to it, and the war starting up in Bosnia was all about racial and religious identity,” he says. “Instead of just sitting around with my canvases and camera, I wanted to take a stand and help.”

Fox rose from the rank of sergeant to become a tank commander and then a platoon leader. Though he never made it to Bosnia (he wound up in South Korea instead), his experience in the Army shaped him in profound ways.

“ I balanced myself out,” he says. “Before I went into the military, I was just an artist with only an artist’s perspective of the world. Everything changed once I got to the army and discovered another perspective on reality.”

Fox found himself working side-by-side with individuals from a diverse array of backgrounds. He experienced camaraderie on a level that impacted him forever and emerged with new-found abilities in logistics—skills which would directly impact his film career.

Fox works with Rescuers director of photography Anka Malatyanska at the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe in Berlin, Germany.

From London to Rwanda: making The Rescuers

After leaving the military and earning his master’s degree at the American Film Institute, Fox quickly developed a reputation for his ability to manage people and equipment. He founded his own company, Decipher Entertainment, and began working on a variety of productions.

One particularly memorable experience was the chance to work with Mark Hamill on Virtually Heroes, a film about two self-aware characters in a Call of Duty-style video game. Hamill was “amazing to work with”, Fox recalls, and their film premiered at Sundance in the Midnight Series in 2014. A few years later, Fox worked on XX, an all-female horror anthology which also premiered at Sundance. His greatest logistical challenge, however, was The Rescuers, which Fox considers the most meaningful film of his career to date.

The Rescuers follows the journey of Stephanie Nyombayire, a young Rwandan anti-genocide activist who teams up with renowned Holocaust historian Sir Martin Gilbert. Together, they travel to interview survivors and descendants of European diplomats who rescued tens of thousands of Jews from the Nazi death camps of WWII. Known as “the righteous diplomats”, these courageous individuals faked visas and created an underground railroad to smuggle Jews to freedom.

“The Rescuers is one of the most significant pieces I've ever done,” says Fox. “We found people who were rescued and brought them back to their home countries to share their stories. Many of them were returning for the first time since the 1940s.”

As a producer, Fox’s challenge was to maneuver a large crew and equipment across 15 countries and three continents over a combined six months of filming. The work tested his abilities to the max and also brought him face-to-face with the brutal aftermath of genocide. Nyombayire lost 100 members of her family in the Rwandan Genocide of the 1990s, and while filming in her home country, the crew was exposed to mass graves left out in the open. The sight was a stark reminder that genocide isn’t just a historical tragedy, but an ongoing one. Fox knew he’d never forget it.

“It took me three days to get the smell of death off of me,” he says. “The Rescuers shows us historical models to remind us that this can never happen again. No matter what people groups are affected by genocide, we can never allow it to happen again.”

This world is a complex place, and we’re surrounded by good and evil on a daily basis. If I can illuminate that truth for my audiences, maybe inspire them to stand up for justice in their own way, I think I can be proud of that.

Dwjuan Fox

An Interlochen legacy

Though Fox has many fruitful years left, he’s already established quite a legacy—both through boots-on-the-ground efforts and through the provocative films he makes. These days, he continues to find success through Decipher and watches as his own children pursue their artistic gifts. Fox’s 10-year-old daughter is showing talent in the visual arts, and his son London graduated from Interlochen Arts Academy last year.

“My son went to Interlochen as a little boy and came back as a young man. Even after his first year there, he had changed so much,” Fox recalls. “I’m hoping we can send my daughter there as well. There’s just no better place for creatively-minded students.”

As Fox Jr. follows in his father’s footsteps to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Fox Sr. is finishing up his latest project, Woman in the Yard. The psychological horror movie, directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, is set to drop in March of this year. When Fox looks toward the future, he sees adventure.

“I want to continue making films that impact people and make them ask hard questions,” says Fox. “This world is a complex place, and we’re surrounded by good and evil on a daily basis. If I can illuminate that truth for my audiences, maybe inspire them to stand up for justice in their own way, I think I can be proud of that.”

Rhythms of hope: Music therapist Melita Belgrave turns popular tunes into intergenerational connections (Stories 627405)

marycaroline.whims@interlochen.org — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 19:49:45 +0000

Rhythms of hope: Music therapist Melita Belgrave turns popular tunes into intergenerational connections (Stories 627405) marycaroline.w… Wed, 01/29/2025 - 14:49 Rhythms of hope: Music therapist Melita Belgrave turns popular tunes into intergenerational connectionsA graduate of Interlochen Arts Academy and professor at Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts, Belgrave shares stories of her work’s impact on people of all ages and stages.

Melita Belgrave (IAC 92, IAA 92-94, IAC St 94-95)

January 29, 2025

Who knew that a 2014 Bruno Mars funk-pop hit could bring an entire community together? The power of songs like “Uptown Funk” is no surprise to Dr. Melita Belgrave (IAC 92, IAA 92-94, IAC St 94-95), who has seen over and over again how a catchy lyric and driving beat can lift spirits and inspire connection. A music therapist by trade, Belgrave is also Associate Professor of Music Therapy in the School of Music, Dance and Theatre and Associate Dean for Culture and Access at Herberger Institute for Design in the Arts at Arizona State University. She shares what drew her to the world of music therapy, how her time at Interlochen impacted her career, and what she finds most fulfilling in her work.

How did you get into music therapy?

I think I’ve always had a desire to help others. My parents are from Belize, where people often live in multigenerational communities. I grew up with my grandmother living in the house, and all of my parent’s friends also had older adults living in their homes. I spent a lot of my formative years around older adults and witnessed them as they went through dementia and the aging process. I spent time in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and hospital settings. Plus, my mom was a nurse. So I felt a natural gravity towards helping people and being in community.

How did your time at Interlochen impact you?

It was amazing to be around so many other like-minded people, where it was a completely normal thing to practice music for hours every day. That kind of discipline was built into our days, and it came with a feeling of belonging. I was introduced to a lot of different ideas, and started thinking about how to build community with people. I volunteered and led tours of campus because I really enjoyed it—sharing things that bring me joy is something that comes naturally to me. Those interests really play into my current administrative role, which is all about building community and making people seen while understanding the many identities and experiences that bring us to this place.

What are some reasons why someone might want to undergo music therapy? What are some of the positive effects you’ve seen as a result of your work?

My favorite population to work with is older adults. I also love working in intergenerational settings where we bring young people and older people together. I love doing things that are new and outside of the box.

One of my favorite programs, which I ran in Kansas City, was an intergenerational rock band where college students and older adults learned rock music from the 60s to the present together and then performed it as a choir and ensemble. I was able to see many older adults who were struggling with depression rediscover their motivation, simply because they decided to stay committed to weekly practices for the band.

When older adults age in our society, we tend to throw them away. We tend to assume they can't learn new things or that they're stuck in their ways. But instead, I gave them assignments to go talk to the young people in their lives, whether their adult children or their grandchildren, and see what music they were listening to.

I ran this program for six years, and I started hearing about older adults learning to recognize popular music—maybe at the Grammys, the Super Bowl, or on the radio. They’d be able to point out Beyonce or Jason Miraz. I’d hear the most fun stories of older adults being in the car with their grandchildren and saying, “Oh, turn that song up. That’s ‘Uptown Funk’!” And their grandchildren would say, “Granny, what are you talking about? You don’t know ‘Uptown Funk’!” But then they’d come to the show and see their grandparents performing that song in a rock band. The project created incredible intergenerational connections through music. Therapy isn’t all “Let’s talk about feelings.” You can learn so much through the joy of music and discovery.

What’s one of the most meaningful projects you’ve worked on?

One of my most memorable projects was the Heartbeat Project, which I did with the Mayo Clinic hospitals. I was working with patients facing the ends of their lives, with no cure for their illnesses. I would record a patient’s heartbeats and work with a colleague in sound engineering to amplify it so it became the drumbeat of one of their favorite songs. Each patient could choose the song that they wanted to leave for loved ones to remember them by, and we’d put it on a CD recording, along with me playing the piano or guitar and singing. The track would also include any expression or singing I was able to record from the patient and/or their family during the session.

This project was in 2019, but I can still remember every patient whose heartbeat I recorded. I was so moved by the fact that they’d let a stranger into those spaces because I was doing something musical. I would be welcomed in, right alongside the family members. And if the patient was alive, I'd sometimes get them to sing their song with me. I have so many beautiful stories from those spaces.

Why do you find it so important to bring a multicultural approach to your work?

In the spaces that we're living in right now, not all communities feel safe and seen and heard when they step into healthcare settings, which is where music therapists see most of their patients. Empathy comes with understanding and being aware that there are historical and generational patterns for communities around access to healthcare. If you don't understand that, how can you even begin to be empathetic or provide good care for your patients? Focusing on DEI and belonging helps us to understand the people who need our care and how we can best serve them.

What is the most fulfilling part of your work?

When I’m working as a therapist with my clients, the most rewarding part is seeing the moments where you make a difference in the lives of clients. That might be a patient with dementia who has not been alert and all of the sudden has a moment of alertness with me in a music therapy session. Or it might be an end-of-life situation like the ones I encountered in the Heartbeat Project.

In my work in higher education, the most fulfilling part is just being with the students. I see them grow and see each individual own who they are, their curiosity, and the work they're doing. Those are the spaces that bring me joy all day.

“Edmonia” composer Dr. Bill Banfield previews the opera’s premiere on ‘Arts Engines’ (News Articles 625981)

marycaroline.whims@interlochen.org — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 20:35:33 +0000

“Edmonia” composer Dr. Bill Banfield previews the opera’s premiere on ‘Arts Engines’ (News Articles 625981) marycaroline.w… Mon, 04/15/2024 - 16:35 “Edmonia” composer Dr. Bill Banfield previews the opera’s premiere on ‘Arts Engines’Dr. Bill Banfield and host Aaron Dworkin (IAA 86-88) discussed the process of creating an opera, the joy of collaboration, and more on one of the nation’s most widely viewed arts programs.

Composer Bll Banfield

April 15, 2024

Interlochen Arts Academy visiting artist and Edmonia composer Dr. Bill Banfield recently appeared as a guest on one of the nation’s most widely viewed arts and culture programs, Arts Engines.

WATCH NOW

During the episode, Dr. Banfield shared insights into the creative process behind his new opera, Edmonia, which will be premiering at Interlochen Center for the Arts on May 3-5, 2024. Dr. Banfield recalled conversations with poet Yusef Komunyakaa that helped spark his growing interest in the life of Black and Indigenous sculptor Edmonia Lewis—and the commission from Toni Morrison that launched the project celebrating the sculptor’s forgotten story.

He also discussed the opera’s journey from libretto to compositions to workshops and production, noting the richly interdisciplinary nature of the process.

“The opera process is very beautiful, because there’s text, there’s story, there’s texture, there’s color, there’s orchestration, and there are songs,” he said. “There’s a sense of the whole creative body being involved in that process.”

Dr. Banfield and host Aaron Dworkin (IAA 86-88) delved into the “through line” which unifies an opera thematically, the importance of creative intention, and the joy of collaborating with other gifted artists.

“Art is about collaboration,” said Dr. Banfield. We lean on each other as artists, and we reference each other, and that’s how we get the art out to the people. I think that’s very important.”

Reaching audiences of more than 100,000 each week, Arts Engines highlights the perspectives of thought leaders and game-changers in the arts, revealing the human stories and real-life experiences of those who power creativity every day. The program is produced in partnership with and distributed by Detroit Public Television, Ovation TV, the Violin Channel, and American Public Media. Previous Interlochen-affiliated guests featured on Arts Engines include Interlochen Arts Academy Orchestra conductor Dr. Leslie B. Dunner; flutist Demarre McGill (IAC 89-91); University Musical Society President Emeritus Ken Fischer (IAC/NMC 55, 57-58, 60-62; IAC St 66); and Interlochen Center for the Arts President Trey Devey. Past episodes of Arts Engines are available to watch on-demand on the program’s website and YouTube channel.

Dr. Banfield’s opera Edmonia premieres at Interlochen on May 3-5, 2024. Purchase tickets here.

A leap into the unknown: How Dance major Jayla found friendship and focus at Interlochen (Stories 625704)

marycaroline.whims@interlochen.org — Fri, 05 Jan 2024 20:31:30 +0000

A leap into the unknown: How Dance major Jayla found friendship and focus at Interlochen (Stories 625704) marycaroline.w… Fri, 01/05/2024 - 15:31 A leap into the unknown: How Dance major Jayla found friendship and focus at InterlochenWhen Jayla started at Interlochen, she wasn’t sure where she fit in within the dance world. Now, as a senior, she’s found her unique strengths and a place of her own within a vibrant interdisciplinary community.

Jayla as Clara in Interlochen's 2023 production of The Nutcracker

January 5, 2024

“There’s an added layer to the challenge because not only are you a freshman in high school, you're a freshman at an arts boarding school. You're not with your parents, and you're going to live with some person that you probably have never met before. It’s really scary to be a new person.”

It took some courage for Jayla Stafford to dive in at Interlochen Arts Academy in fall of 2020. But she’d had a great summer at Interlochen Arts Camp, and felt that this was the next step for her.

“When I heard about Arts Academy, I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I need to go,’” she says.

Jayla came to Interlochen unsure of her direction within dance and wondering if she’d find friendship. In the past three and a half years, she has honed in on her creative gifts, experienced amazing collaborations with students in other majors, and found a community of friends who support her.

Honing in on her gifts

Before Interlochen, Jayla had enjoyed exploring different styles of dance, but didn’t have a driving focus.

“I was doing ballet, jazz, African, tap, hip-hop—a lot of different styles. Coming to Interlochen, it was very helpful to hone in on something, focus on it, and explore it, so that I could figure out what I like.”

Jayla continued her explorations with different kinds of classes at Interlochen, and soon found that her focus revolved around ballet, contemporary dance, and composition.

“That's where I felt most at home in terms of our curriculum here, which is why now I think I decided that I want to go into more contemporary dance, instead of ballet,” she says.

While ballet might not be her choice for the future, Jayla has certainly excelled in it—and it’s allowed her to discover her physical gifts.

“This year in The Nutcracker, I was Clara, Dewdrop, Columbine, Chocolate, Shortcake, and Mrs. Spice. But my favorite was Dewdrop. She does a lot of jumps, and does them to very happy, uplifting, nostalgic music. I really loved Dewdrop. That was my favorite role this year.”

Anyone who sees Jayla perform can tell that she loves to leap. She credits her instructors at Interlochen for helping her understand and develop her unique physical abilities.

“All the teachers appreciate your own personal aspects of your dancing and your movement,” she says. “They're not restrictive, and they let you explore what your body can do with your anatomy and structure. As an artist, I think that's my favorite part about the training and the teachers here.”

Jayla Stafford (left) leaps into the air as one of the stepsisters in Interlochen's 2023 production of Cinderella.

I think that acting is the one discipline that I can most closely relate to dance. Working with theatre majors side by side has helped me express myself better through dance.

Jayla Stafford

Collaboration and learning how to act as a dancer

When Jayla looks back on her Interlochen experience, she’s struck by the many opportunities she’s had to collaborate with students in other disciplines and learn from them. Last year, she got a taste of theatre technique when she played one of the stepsisters in the ballet Cinderella.

“That role involves a ton of acting and it was very new to me, but it was very fun—-probably one of the most fun roles I've ever done,” she says.

Since then, she’s had even more chances to experience other disciplines. In the spring of 2023, she went to New York as part of the MUKTI tour, which brought students from every Arts Academy major together for an interdisciplinary performance.

“Working with every single major, integrating my movement, and finding out where there are intersections in our art forms was a very helpful experience for me as a dancer,” she says. “I think that acting is the one discipline that I can most closely relate to dance. Working with theatre majors side by side has helped me express myself better through dance. Learning how to feel my space, and where I am in space, is a habit I have now that came from working with the theatre department.”

This year, Jayla is taking collaboration to another level through her involvement with Choreographers and Composers, a student group that matches student musicians with dancers to create original staged performances. As she works with music majors, Jayla is learning how to explain the technical aspects of dance in a way that’s accessible to others—a skill that may prove valuable to her in the professional world.

“I'm learning a lot about how to communicate with simpler vocabulary about dance in order for a music major to connect to that, so we can be on the same page,” she says.

The community here is the main reason that I've stayed for four years, because I feel included. I feel like there are people who understand me on a different level than a friend from back home would.

Jayla Stafford

An atmosphere of community

The most important conversations Jayla is having, however, are the ones she shares with her friends. She says there’s something really special about the community she’s found at Interlochen, and it was evident to her from day 1.

“Starting from the first few months of my freshman year when I was completely new, the dance program here has always had the kind of community where someone will come up to you and say hi if you're sitting alone or not talking. Or they’ll just ask ‘How are you?’ And that kind of energy, especially when I was a freshman, was very helpful.”

Now that her senior year has passed the halfway mark, Jayla has made it her responsibility to keep this culture thriving as best as she can.

“I'm trying to keep the energy going where everybody feels like they have a friend, like they can talk to someone. I think that's a really good part about the Interlochen dance community,” she says. ”That includes just asking ‘Hey, do you want to grab dinner after dance?’ I think that’s something that you don't really find at a lot of other studios.”

It’s not just the overall culture that Jayla appreciates. She’s also grateful for the unusual depth and strength of the friendships she’s found.

“The friendships that I've made here have been so different than the ones that I made when I was in middle school,” she says. “I think it’s because of that arts connection, whether or not they are dance majors. We all understand the importance of writing a poem or writing music notes or doing some choreography. The community here is the main reason that I've stayed for four years, because I feel included. I feel like there are people who understand me on a different level than a friend from back home would.”

Jayla’s not sure yet what the future will hold for her: “I am open to a lot of options,” she says, though she’s especially interested in pursuing her skills with a modern or contemporary dance company. Wherever she goes, she’ll take the in-depth training, collaborative skills, and friendships she found at Interlochen.

Learn more about Dance at Interlochen Arts Academy.

Written in the stars: MK’s journey (Stories 625696)

melissa.birdsey — Tue, 02 Jan 2024 17:13:46 +0000

Written in the stars: MK’s journey (Stories 625696) melissa.birdsey Tue, 01/02/2024 - 12:13 Written in the stars: MK’s journeyContemporary music student MK Keso shares how she chose Interlochen Arts Academy—and what prospective international students should consider before studying abroad.

MK Keso shares a presentation on Zambia at the Fall 2023 Interlochen Arts Academy Culture Fair.

January 2, 2024

MK Keso’s journey from Zambia to Interlochen was propelled by a longing for something more—both culturally and artistically.

“Zambia is a very homogenous country,” MK says. “Everyone has the same culture, everyone follows the same religion, and everyone has the same norms. A part of me always wanted to experience a world outside of Zambia. There was so much of the world that I saw through screens that I craved to experience.”

During sixth grade, MK had the opportunity to visit London, England, which reinforced her desire to explore other cultures. Her search for a global perspective ultimately led her to enroll at an American school in Zambia.

“That school fostered my love for the arts tremendously,” MK says. “However, we only had one semester dedicated to the arts, and during that semester, we only had arts training twice a week for 30 minutes. I thought, ‘There’s got to be something more.’”

Eager to further her artistic training, MK applied to a summer arts camp in New York. Although she was unable to attend due to financial considerations, the process opened her eyes to the many arts camps and schools available in the United States—including Interlochen Arts Academy.

“When I was accepted to Interlochen, I felt like the Academy was where I was supposed to be because everything led me to this point,” MK says. “It felt like it was written in the stars.”

Finding support, fostering community

In fall 2022, MK joined the Academy community as a junior. While her time at the American school eased her transition to Interlochen, she still encountered challenges in adjusting to life in the United States.

“It definitely hasn’t been easy,” she says. “One of the challenges, for me, is craving familiarity. I don’t necessarily miss home, but I miss the feeling of a home. In the U.S., I'm always learning and getting acclimated to the culture.”

MK uses journaling to help her process the complex emotions of feeling caught between two cultures. Her greatest source of support, however, is the students and staff she has met at Interlochen.

“One of the biggest things that contributed to me thriving—and not just surviving—during my first year was finding a supportive friend group,” MK says. “It took some time for me to find my people, but when I did, they were quality. The majority of my friends last year were seniors; this year, we keep in touch through weekly Facetime calls.”

She also found a listening ear in the Academy’s International Student Services Manager, Kalyn Rabuse.

“Kalyn is always there to talk,” MK says. “She specialized in international education in college, and she’s been with the international student body at Interlochen for a long time, so she knows exactly what she’s doing and what she’s talking about. She’s a great support system.”

In spring 2023, MK founded the International Student Union to create a space where the Academy’s international students can find encouragement and camaraderie.

“Just being in a place with other international students feels very supportive,” MK says. “It’s a community of people that understand and share the same experience.”

Exploring endless opportunities

In addition to lifelong friendships and cultural immersion, MK has also found the rigorous artistic training she craved at the Academy. Over the past year and a half, the Popular Performance major has provided her with rich opportunities to further her skill as a vocalist and explore other artistic disciplines.

“The curriculum for music majors is very open; it allows you to take classes that interest you while having core classes in your major,” she says. “I’ve been able to dabble in piano and music theory, and I took two acting classes last year. I’m currently taking a course on African American theatre, and I’m taking a poetry class next semester.”

“I try to have at least one class outside my major each semester, which is always fascinating and enriching. There’s an endless amount of opportunities available.”

One of MK’s favorite aspects of attending Interlochen is the Academy’s culture of personal and artistic individuality.

“I love the atmosphere here; it’s liberating,” MK says. “It makes you feel like you can be yourself. I’ve never felt that way anywhere else.”

Examining the international experience

When asked what advice she would offer other international students, MK explains that potential obstacles vary based on the student’s home country and encourages prospective students to consider the differences between their country and the United States—both culturally and academically.

“One of my biggest struggles as the president of the International Student Union is fostering bonds between students from around the world, because our challenges are so different,” she says. “I come from Zambia, so economic navigation is hard for me. But other students struggle more with culture, language, or other barriers. It’s also important to study the disparities between your country’s education system and the American education system. You have to know what types of differences you can handle.”

MK also urges prospective students to examine their motivations for studying abroad.

“Ask yourself what you want out of the international student experience,” she says. “Is it just the school you’re interested in, or do you want the global perspective? Are you willing to contribute to the campus community, or do you just want to derive the benefits of belonging to an American society?”

Beyond the artistic and academic opportunities offered by studying abroad, MK says attending a school in a different country also develops resilience.

“I feel like every single thing I do at Interlochen is so rewarding,” she says. “All of the struggles I’ve faced have been such a character-building exercise that I can confidently say that I’ll be proud of the girl I will be when I graduate in May.”

Leaving a legacy

As she prepares for her final semester at the Academy, MK is eager to make the most of her last few months at Interlochen.

“My senior recital is coming up in the spring; I have 20 minutes to showcase the things that mattered most to me throughout my journey at Interlochen,” MK says. “I’m also participating in several upcoming community meetings, including those led by the Black Student Union and International Student Union. I want to use those meetings to shed light on who I am and share the cultures I represent and bring to this campus. I also hope to build the International Student Union so that the legacy I’ve created can continue and benefit future generations of students.”

“Honestly, I’m trying to get everything humanly possible from my experience at Interlochen. I’m never going to find another place like it.”

From Afghanistan to Interlochen: Meena’s story (Stories 625574)

marycaroline.whims@interlochen.org — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 19:18:49 +0000

From Afghanistan to Interlochen: Meena’s story (Stories 625574) marycaroline.w… Tue, 10/31/2023 - 15:18 From Afghanistan to Interlochen: Meena’s storyCello major Meena describes how she overcame her fears about studying abroad, dove into clubs and activities at Interlochen, and found the courage to share her country’s culture with fellow students. October 31, 2023

When Meena first heard about Interlochen Arts Academy while in her home country of Afghanistan, she was excited about the chance to pursue her passion for cello abroad, but she also had some serious reservations. The school was six thousand miles from home, after all. Plus, she anticipated a major culture shock.

“I worried about my language—how I spoke differently, I thought differently, and I had a different worldview because I did not grow up in the United States. I thought that would be a very big problem,” she says.

Today, it’s been three years since her decision to attend school at Interlochen, and Meena is embarking on her senior year. During her time at the school, she’s done more than just survive as an international student: she’s excelled in her classes, made friends, developed her musical ability, and even taken on the role of student body president. How did Meena find her stride at Interlochen? Here’s her inspiring story, in Meena’s own words.

Ice cream and international perspectives: an atmosphere of friendly curiosity

Upon arriving at Interlochen, Meena was immediately swept up into the lively conversations about art and culture happening all around campus. She found a warm welcome from her fellow students, as well as plenty of opportunities to hear diverse points of view.

“Being an art school everyone thinks all you will talk about is art,” she says. “While that is true—you will talk about art at your lunch and your breakfast and your dinner—you will also talk about different topics. Like, for example, how does the concept of ice cream differ from one country to another? Or how do people talk to each other in different cultures? How do they talk to an older person or a younger person? Being at Interlochen has taught me so many wonderful things about other human beings.”

When Meena looks back on her Interlochen experience, she’s struck by the kindness and support she received from other students who wanted to better understand her background.

“When I came here, everyone was always willing to talk to me,” she says. “The students at Interlochen are very friendly, and they're willing to listen. They're actually very curious about listening. And the most amazing part that really helped me was that I was not the only international student. What makes Interlochen special is the diversity. There are many international students at Interlochen from Syria, Turkey, and all over the world.”

Over time, Meena grew more and more comfortable sharing her story in conversations with friends. Her language and worldview weren’t just things that made her “different”; they were some of her greatest strengths.

“My culture is one of my strengths, because in every conversation you go into, you're bringing your own perspectives, which broadens the conversation that you're having with your friends,” she says.

Meena (center, seated) performs with a quartet.

Sharing her story with the student body

Meena dove headfirst into her Arts Academy experience. She joined clubs like the Asian Affinity Group and Youth in Government. She played in chamber music and orchestra. She showcased her country’s top dishes to the entire Interlochen community at the International Food Fair. And she’s now the president of the student body—a role that’s allowed her to share her heritage with others.

“In most of the Community Meetings when I talk with the student body, I share poetry in my language and I give the translation, which is the best because I'm sharing with them something that I really love,” she says.

When asked how she thinks about her home country, Meena responds thoughtfully.

“When I think about Afghanistan, I think about the nature of it, the environment, my friends, my family, and the connections,” she says. “There are many things that I think about Afghanistan, due to the situation there right now. I think about Afghanistan every second of my day.”

Meena’s next steps—and her advice for international students who aren’t sure yet about Interlochen

Where’s Meena headed next year? The cello major is getting ready to attend her dream school, Harvard University.

“I'm planning on dual majoring in social justice and government and cello,” she says. “That’s my goal.”

She advises international students to take the plunge and apply to Interlochen.

“I would tell a student who’s hesitating to just do it,” she says. “Yes, it will be hard at the beginning, because nothing is easy, but if you overcome it and do it, that’s what makes you different and what makes you closer to your goal. The most important thing is going through the process and learning from it.”

Her time at Interlochen will come to an end this spring, but Meena’s looking forward to seeing some of her Arts Academy friends again.

“The network of people that you build here is very important,” she says. “If you come to Interlochen, you’ll meet people from different places. And because you're an artist, in the future these people will be playing in the same orchestra that you're playing in. You'll see them in the future.”

Find out what it’s like to study music at Interlochen Arts Academy, learn more about how the school supports international students, or explore activities and clubs within Residential Life.

Creating a “call in” culture: 5 questions with speaker and activist Loretta Ross (News Articles 625402)

marycaroline.whims@interlochen.org — Tue, 05 Sep 2023 18:15:41 +0000

Creating a “call in” culture: 5 questions with speaker and activist Loretta Ross (News Articles 625402) marycaroline.w… Tue, 09/05/2023 - 14:15 Creating a “call in” culture: 5 questions with speaker and activist Loretta RossA survivor of childhood sexual abuse, poverty, and homelessness, Ross has dedicated her life to promoting social justice. September 5, 2023

On August 29 in Corson Auditorium, Interlochen kicked off the Academy year by inviting all employees to hear from keynote speaker Dr. Loretta Ross, an award-winning, nationally recognized expert on racism and racial justice, women's rights, and human rights.

Ross’s work emphasizes the intersectionality of social justice issues and how intersectionality can fuel transformation. She is a 2022 MacArthur Fellow and associate professor at Smith College (Northampton, MA) in the Program for the Study of Women and Gender, teaching courses on white supremacy, race, and culture in America, human rights, and calling in the calling out culture. Ross appears regularly in major media outlets and was recently featured in a New York Times piece, "What if Instead of Calling People Out, We Called Them In?".

In her work as an activist, Ross draws on her own personal experiences as a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, poverty, and homelessness. Here, she shares her passion for activism, her go-to strategy for working through conflict, and her definition of what it means to call people in.

What are the main focus points of your life and work? What are you most passionate about?

My passion right now is teaching people how to call each other in instead of calling each other out. I've done more than 50 years worth of social justice activism and I’ve taught for five years as a college professor.

Could you define what it means to call someone in instead of calling them out?

It's a matter of approach and tone, because a call in is simply a call out done with love and respect, instead of anger, blaming, and shaming.

Both of them are accountability processes. In other words, somebody said something that has caused harm, or at least is suspected of causing harm. You want to check in with them. You want to say, ‘Did you mean to do that?’ Or you can choose to say, ‘I can't believe you said that!’

Both approaches call into question what was done or said, but with calling in, you keep in mind that the other person has feelings like you do.

Your work deals with heavy issues and places you in frequent conflict. How do you stay positive despite the seriousness of what you do?

I've had to train myself to not avoid conflicts, but view them as opportunities for learning. If I can restrain my initial panic, I can usually figure out what's actually at stake. Is it a misunderstanding? Did I use a word that I shouldn't have used? Did I trigger something in somebody else? Is it because we're using the same word and meaning different things? There are all kinds of reasons for conflict, not all of which are bad.

What are you most looking forward to sharing with our community here at Interlochen?

I hope they’ll learn to be less judgmental about each other, to say ‘I have choices. When something makes me uncomfortable, I don't have to strike out. I don't have to call people names or attach labels to people, simply because I'm uncomfortable.’

What are some goals you’d like to accomplish in the years ahead?

I’d like to see a culture shift. I want us to step back from the precipice of destroying our democracy, and embrace bipartisanship. I want us to figure out how to have productive conversations, even with people we don't agree with.

Learn more about diversity, equity, and inclusion at Interlochen Center for the Arts.

Creating opportunities through collaboration (Stories 625020)

melissa.birdsey — Mon, 03 Jul 2023 13:23:08 +0000

Creating opportunities through collaboration (Stories 625020) melissa.birdsey Mon, 07/03/2023 - 09:23 Creating opportunities through collaborationInterlochen Arts Camp alumnus Stanford Thompson unites musical organizations across the country to level the playing field for BIPOC musicians.

Stanford Thompson. Photo credit: Todd Rosenberg.

July 12, 2023

Stanford Thompson (IAC 00-03; IAC St 05-06, 08) has always been a man with vision.

As a high school student in Atlanta, Georgia, Thompson co-founded the Atlanta Trumpet Festival at Emory University. In 2011, Thompson co-founded Play On Philly, an El Sistema-inspired program that provides high quality music education to K-12 students in west Philadelphia—at no cost. Thompson also proposed the Sphinx LEAD program—for which he served as dean—shared his ideas with audiences around the world as a 2017 TED Fellow; and helped chart the future of Interlochen Center for the Arts as a member of the Board of Trustees (2013-17).

In 2018, Thompson conceived one of his most revolutionary ideas to date: A national coalition of music organizations working together to level the playing field for BIPOC musicians. Thompson’s vision came to fruition in January 2021 with the establishment of Equity Arc (formerly known as the National Instrumentalist Mentoring and Advancement Network), an association that unites organizations working in all stages of musical development to develop new pathways for classical musicians of color and increase access to resources and opportunities.

On May 1, 2023, Thompson stepped into a full-time position as the inaugural Executive Director of Equity Arc. In this role, Thompson will leverage a wealth of personal and professional experience to transform the classical music industry from the inside out.

“I’ve met a lot of kids from all over the country who really want to be professional classical musicians,” Thompson said. “It means a lot to me to help many more of them get the opportunities they deserve and that they need to take their next steps.”

From southern roots to northern pines

Music is in Thompson’s blood: His parents, both retired music educators, instilled a love of music—and a commitment to dedicated practice—upon their eight children.

“We always had a rule in our house that you only ate on the days that you practiced,” Thompson shared in a 2018 interview with PBS News Hour.

Thompson picked up the trumpet at age eight, going on to perform with the Atlanta Youth Wind Symphony and participate in the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s Talent Development Program. Thompson learned about Interlochen Arts Camp from his brother, bassist and Charlotte Symphony Youth Ensemble conductor Eric (IAC 99-02), who attended Camp for the first time in the summer of 1999.

“I remember him coming back and speaking about how magical this place was,” Thompson said.

Thompson joined Eric at Camp in the summer of 2000, beginning a decades-long affiliation with the organization.

“The coolest part for me was being in a cabin with 14 other students who were studying different art forms,” Thompson said. “It opened up my world to everything the arts have to provide. It also opened me up to new experiences. I remember being in a community that was very open, where folks were talking about things like their sexuality and their beliefs. It was a really safe place to be who you were. Growing up in a conservative community, Interlochen was a breath of fresh air.”

Thompson also thrived musically during his time at Camp. “The music program has always been strong at Interlochen,” he said. “There were really, really great musical opportunities: from hearing the Detroit Symphony Orchestra each year to the countless conductors that visited. I had the chance to hear Van Cliburn perform twice, and I worked with conductors like Jan Roller and Gerard Schwarz. It was a really big growing opportunity for me.”

Making an impact beyond the back row

After high school, Thompson continued his musical studies at the Curtis Institute of Music with the intention of pursuing a career as a professional trumpeter. During his final semester at the institute, his plans were altered by an event that stunned the classical music community: The appointment of Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel as the next Music Director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

“Dudamel was one of the first conductors of color in a major American orchestra, and that made some really big waves,” Thompson said.

Dudamel’s rise drew international attention to the musical organization that had nurtured his talents, El Sistema, earning founder Dr. José Antonio Abreu the 2009 TED Prize.

“All eyes were on this social development and music education program in Venezuela, because this conductor didn’t go through Curtis or Julliard or the Vienna Conservatory—he came out of this program,” Thompson said. “I immediately saw an opportunity, and I wanted to be a part of creating large-scale impact on communities. I felt I could do that better as an administrator than from the back row of an orchestra.”

Thompson enrolled in the New England Conservatory’s Sistema Fellows Program, a professional training program designed to prepare fellows to launch, manage, and lead El Sistema-inspired programs in the United States. Following his completion of the program, Thompson collaborated with philanthropist Carole Haas Gravagno to establish Play On Philly.

In the 12 years since its inception, Play On Philly has grown to encompass five locations, providing musical instruction to approximately 400 K-12 students annually.

“Jumping into the work of Play On Philly—working with those communities, families, and young people—was a really big treat,” Thompson said. “To take what I saw modeled at places like Interlochen and to create that type of environment for other young people was really cool.”

Connecting students to opportunities

Despite Play On Philly’s successes, Thompson soon began grappling with the challenges of supporting the program’s most gifted students.

“What working with Play On Philly showed me is that there are very, very talented young musicians who want to be part of professional stages later on,” Thompson said. “One of the limitations of Play On Philly is that since it is a socially focused program, we don’t necessarily have all of the resources to help these students pursue music as a professional career. We had to be very resourceful and work with places like Interlochen, local youth orchestras, and other national training programs to help our students matriculate to conservatories like the Royal College of Music in London, Eastman School of Music, and the Peabody Institute.”

As Thompson forged connections at other institutions, he considered the challenges he and his colleagues at Play On Philly had faced in helping their students achieve their musical goals.

“I said to myself, ‘Should it be so difficult for an executive director like me to connect our students to these advanced-level opportunities?’” he said. “‘Or can we create a much more streamlined and collaborative process to help musicians of color get support?’”

Those questions sparked the idea for Equity Arc. In 2018, Thompson introduced the idea to his connections at organizations across the country, refining the concept over a two-year period. In January 2021, Thompson convened musical leaders in Cincinnati, Ohio to formally discuss the creation of a national coalition of musical organizations committed to developing equitable opportunities for aspiring classical musicians of color. The two-day convening resulted in the establishment of Equity Arc and the installation of Thompson as the association’s board chairman.

Through participation in Equity Arc, partner organizations—including Interlochen Center for the Arts—are able to access information and resources to aid in increasing the diversity and equity of their programs.

“Most music organizations have articulated that they would like to increase diversity and inclusion within their organizations,” Thompson said. “Organizations that are doing so through the training of underrepresented musicians have agreed to share information with other Equity Arc members—both about the musicians they’re working with, as well as what they have learned from running their own initiatives. By sharing that information, we’re able to identify areas of collective action.”

One example of this sharing of information is the Common Application, which the Interlochen Center for the Arts admission team helped develop. Through the Common Application, musicians of color are able to submit a single application for consideration for multiple opportunities.

“We wanted to make it easier for musicians of color to apply to places like Interlochen,” Thompson said. “We agreed to create one set of repertoire and one application—which is free—so that we can connect potential students with admission representatives from many applicable programs across the United States.”

Beyond the Common Application, Thompson is challenging Equity Arc partners to reevaluate their own internal admission, enrollment, and operational processes.

“One of our biggest goals is to support organizations as they rethink and adjust their policies and practices,” Thompson said. “Many of these policies and practices favor students who already have access to resources, information, and opportunities that work really well. We are trying to encourage these organizations to think about how these systems and policies exclude underrepresented cultural groups.”

Thompson is also collaborating with Equity Arc’s staff and partners to develop new strategies for supporting underrepresented students.

“We’re working with a lot of our organizations to provide advancement opportunities for musicians of color within these institutions,” he said.

Ultimately, Thompson hopes to establish a foundation upon which future diversity, equity, and inclusion advocates can build.

“I look at this as generational work,” he said. “I think about the legacy that Interlochen has had, over many generations, on not only artists, but also the people who have worked there and have called Interlochen home. I want Equity Arc to have a similar impact on a group of musicians that have been underrepresented for a really long time.”

Thompson also acknowledges that there is still much work to be done, important progress is already being made.

“Interlochen has been doing the work that Equity Arc is doing for quite some time,” he said. “Through initiatives like the partnership with the Miami Music Project, Interlochen has been a champion for including those who have been left out. Interlochen is a great partner to Equity Arc. Interlochen’s administrators—as well as the organization’s alumni on both the professional stage and the college level—are really leading the way for their colleagues.”

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