My ISB Space - International Society of Bassists Interactive

Serving grades 9-12, the Idyllwild Arts Academy is California’s only arts-based boarding school on the west coast, and one of only three independent boarding arts high schools in the United States. Founded in 1986, the Academy combines a fully-accredited college preparatory program with pre-professional training in music, creative writing, dance, film and video, interdisciplinary arts, theater and the visual arts. Located in the San Jacinto Mountains of southern California above Palm Springs, the adjacent communities of Idyllwild and Pine Cove, CA, with a combined population of 3,500, are approximately 100 miles from both Los Angeles and San Diego. The area is a resort destination for hiking, mountain and rock climbing and horseback riding.

Several Idyllwild students have written the ISB about their experiences there:

“My name is Boyang Yu. I am a double bass player from China. I have been studying at the Idyllwild Arts Academy on full scholarship for three years. Right now, I am a senior who is graduating. I have been principal bass with the Idyllwild orchestra for three years. I feel very lucky to have worked with my private teacher, Chris Hanulik. He is the co-principal bass of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. His patience and sense of humor really helped me learn playing bass in an easy way. I am also very lucky to have worked with Peter Askim. He is not only the music director of the Idyllwild Arts Academy Orchestra; but also a bassist and a composer. We often have bass sectionals with him. I can hardly believe as a high school orchestra, we have already worked on many masterworks, which include Beethoven’s Symphony No.3 and Brahms’ Symphony No.4. In addition each year, the orchestra does a new music concert that provides us a chance to work directly with composers. In recent years the orchestra has given several world premieres. Fortunately, with all of my teachers help, I got into the New England Conservatory on a full scholarship. I am going to keep studying double bass with the assistant principal bass of the Boston Symphony, Larry Wolfe, in September. A musician’s life starts at Idyllwild. It has already provided me a big success. I would like to share the same experience with you. Please don’t miss this opportunity to start your musical life at the Idyllwild Arts Academy. Come on and join us!”

“I’m Mariya Andoniya Andonova. Coming from a different country, hundreds and thousands miles away from Southern California, the Idyllwild Arts Academy has become my second home. After spending two years of my life here, I have become inexpressibly attached to the school, the teachers and the students, who are very supportive and inspiring to me. When I graduate two years from now, I will feel much more confident to continue on with my journey as an artist. Idyllwild Arts Academy has an amazing faculty who are both very focused and well-acquainted with their subjects. Studying with Chris Hanulik, co-principal bass from the Los Angeles Philharmonic, has been a great, life experience fro me. Also, Peter Askim, who is the conductor of the Academy orchestra and who also is the Composer in Residence, has taught me lots of skills for orchestra as well as solo playing. Having such great mentors, I have grown up as a person, musician and artist. The Academy has given me a chance to be here and to do what I have always wanted to do and be, a chance that means a lot to me and to my parents. A chance that has opened numerous doors for me, such as participating in Itzhakh Perlman’s summer program two years in a row. Idyllwild Arts Academy has made my dreams become true by training and treating me as an artist with responsibilities and goals to be reached.”

“I’m Curtis Aikens. Idyllwild Arts is the best. I know of no other high school where you have all of the performance opportunities of this school. I used to only play jazz and had the honor of studying with Marshall Hawkins for two years. Because of him I have learned so much about the bass and building relationships with other musicians. I recently had an interest in classical bass, so I started studying with Stephanie Payne with the hopes of becoming good enough to switch to a classical major. With the help of Peter Askim, Stephanie Payne and Marshall Hawkins, my playing has improved so much more than I could have ever hoped for. How many high school students can say they studied with Marshall Hawkins, or say they have performed in the Red Cat Theater at Walt Disney Hall? How many high school students can go to a Los Angeles Philharmonic concert and watch their teachers perform? Because of this school I have improved so much, and have met many important people in the business. I don’t think there are many places where a student can get this much attention and guidance. There is no place better for an aspiring musician.”

The Idyllwild (California) Arts Academy is still accepting applications from talented high school age bassists for the 2008-09 academic year. Bass students study with Los Angeles Philharmonic co-principal bass Christopher Hanulik or San Diego Symphony principal bass Jeremy Kurtz, and perform with the Idyllwild Arts Academy Orchestra, under the baton of music director and composer-in-residence Peter Askim. Visiting guest artists at Idyllwild include Stefano Scodanibbio, Mark Dresser, Richard (Dobbs) Hartshorne, Jeremy Kurtz, Matt Haimovitz, Fred Sherry, and the Julliard, Miro and Kronos quartets. Recent graduates have received full scholarships to Juilliard, Curtis, New England Conservatory, Oberlin and San Francisco conservatories. Scholarships are still available, apply immediately. For more information, go to http://www.idyllwildarts.org/academy/academy_admission.html.