Interlochen Arts Academy is a fine arts boarding high school in northwest lower Michigan that prepares young artists for rewarding careers and fosters academic excellence. Each year more than 500 students from around the world come to the scenic, wooded campus at Interlochen looking for greater opportunities to learn, create, and perform.
Interlochen Arts Academy’s student body is comprised of unique, talented, and empathetic young artists. Together with their faculty and staff, our students uphold a community that is:
- INSPIRING
- NURTURING
- TRANSFORMATIVE
- ENLIGHTENING
- RESILIENT
Through intensive arts training and inspiring academics, Academy students hone their talent, expand their capacity, and forge unbreakable bonds. They emerge with strong focus, refined skills, and the confidence to fully pursue their aspirations. At Interlochen, you’ll discover how to transform passion and potential into purpose.
Boarding and day students at Interlochen Arts Academy major in one of seven arts disciplines:
- Creative Writing
- Dance
- Film and New Media (Filmmaking & Animation)
- Interdisciplinary Arts
- Music (Classical, Jazz, Singer-Songwriter, Popular Music, Music Production & Engineering)
- Theatre Arts (Acting, Design and Production, Musical Theatre)
- Visual Arts
While Arts Academy students can choose only one major, opportunities for multi-disciplinary study and collaboration abound. Academy students are encouraged to explore elective classes, enroll in our new Interdisciplinary Arts course, and collaborate with fellow students—both inside and outside the classroom.
Our faculty are dedicated to helping you reach your goals—whether you choose to pursue a career in the arts or any other field. At Interlochen, you’ll be mentored by acclaimed instructors who have performed in major orchestras, danced professionally, published novels, produced films, exhibited work in major galleries, and taught at colleges and conservatories across the globe. With small class sizes, you’ll receive daily, one-on-one instruction from these world-class experts. Our academic faculty will guide you through an accelerated course of study designed to complement your arts education and prepare you for college. With years of experience working with young artists, the academic faculty at Interlochen understand how the arts can unlock your potential in the sciences and humanities.
Comprehensive college-preparatory classes equip students for future success—in any field. Academic instructors collaborate to provide a holistic approach to learning where math, science, history, and literature complement our students’ creativity. For accelerated students, Interlochen offers several Advanced Placement courses; additional Advanced Placement offerings are available online. We also offer dual-enrollment courses through Indiana University’s Advance College Program. These courses fulfill high school graduation requirements and provide college credits that are accepted at most universities.