In a nook of Michigan lies the small town of Interlochen, home to the impressive Interlochen center for the arts.

Student enrollment is only 508 students at Interlochen. It specializes mainly in musical areas, but also works with varied types of arts such as painting and dance. There is a summer camp that the highschool puts on which is just as selective as the school itself. Junior Gillian Hilscher, a very talented viola player at LHS, was successfully accepted into this camp. Along with acceptance to the camp, Hilscher was also accepted into the academy itself.

“[At the highschool,] you have your academics in the morning,” said Hilscher. “They have AP classes, regular classes, they have a wide variety. In the afternoon is when you have your art. If I went, I would have my rehearsals, orchestra rehearsals and small group rehearsals. It’s like a regular school but with a really big focus on the arts.”

Orchestra director Dr. Chiarello attended Interlochen in the 80’s, so he encourages all of his students to take a look at the academy. Hilscher, taking Chiarello’s advice, decided to apply for the camp. However, even with all of the scholarships she has received for the camp, it has a very steep price. Hilscher has received $5,500 in scholarships to attend the camp, yet needs a remaining $3,000 to pay for the rest of the trip.

“They have a summer camp that I went to last summer, it was like a six week program,” said Hilscher. “When I was applying for camp the next year, I also sent in an application to the academy. I really want to go to the school, but it’s really expensive.”

If LHS students want to support Hilscher in her endeavors to go to the summer camp,  they can check out her gofundme page at https://www.gofundme.com/gillianviola.