© 2024 Interlochen
CLASSICAL IPR | 88.7 FM Interlochen | 94.7 FM Traverse City | 88.5 FM Mackinaw City IPR NEWS | 91.5 FM Traverse City | 90.1 FM Harbor Springs/Petoskey | 89.7 FM Manistee/Ludington
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Interlochen president excited for creative perspective amidst COVID-19 pandemic

Interlochen Center for the Arts President Trey Devey
Interlochen Center for the Arts
Interlochen Center for the Arts President Trey Devey

Summer is going to look and sound a lot different at Interlochen Center for the Arts this year.The usual cacophony of music coming from students practicing their instruments all around campus will not happen.

 

Last week, Interlochen canceled its traditional summer arts camp experience due to COVID-19 concerns.Instead, the summer camp will transition to online, virtual instruction.

 

“We convened a special meeting of our board of trustees,” says Devey. “You can imagine the significant weight of the decision after proceeding with camp for 92 years now — and ultimately made the decision with their oversight.” 

 

Devey says there will be virtual options for all art disciplines. While he recognizes there will be some aspects of the Interlochen camp experience that will be lost by switching to online instruction, he also sees it as an opportunity to grow.

 

“It all depends on your perspective,” he says. “The beauty of the arts is the lens that we bring to this particular moment. And so we can either respond and just get stuck in the moment or we can bring our very best creativity.”

 

As for Interlochen’s summer music series, Devey says no decision has been made yet. The arts institution is waiting to see how the next few months play out with the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

“Ideally, if things start to loosen up and we can bring people together, then we would like to do that,” says Devey.

Dan Wanschura is the Host and Executive Producer of Points North.