Interlochen Center for the Arts is preparing to activate a new, permanent musical installation across its campus this Saturday, celebrating its 100th anniversary. The project, titled “Sounding the Call,” will feature an interactive metallophone and 40 wind chimes tuned to the notes of the school’s anthem, “Sound the Call,” from the Interlochen Bowl March by Edwin Franko Goldman.
The installation, which is a world-premiere performance, is set to begin at 2:15 p.m. at the Osterlin Mall, located at the center of campus. The permanent chimes will continuously play portions of the school anthem, transforming the campus into an ongoing sonic experience that also allows for direct interaction.
Interlochen’s percussion director, Keith Aleo, emphasized the project's significance, stating it commemorates the institution's past, present, and future through the involvement of both alumni and current students. Aleo noted that the initiative marks both the conclusion of the first 100 years and the beginning of the next century, explaining that, “oftentimes, in many cultures, the sounding of a percussion instrument marks that change.”
The custom-made silver pipes for the chimes were crafted by alum Garry Kvistad. These pipes are not only precisely tuned but are also painted and adorned with metallic flowers, created by current visual arts students, adding a visual arts component to the sonic installation.
Doug Perkins, director of percussion at the University of Michigan, collaborated with Aleo on the project, particularly in determining the placement of the chimes. Perkins described how careful consideration was given to how the chimes would activate the entire campus, with some installed high in the sky to create a faint echo, while others are positioned closer to the ground to encourage direct engagement. An interactive metallophone, also tuned to “Sound the Call,” will be installed near the school entrance, inviting students and visitors to participate in ringing in the next hundred years.
The Saturday unveiling will include a new work by alum Joey Karz, titled “and as it was.” This piece, which percussion students will premiere, reflects on Interlochen's past century by referencing musical works from alumni composers. Perkins noted that the conclusion of Karz's piece will lead directly into the release and activation of the wind chimes. Percussionists will physically lift the chimes, bringing them to life across campus before they are permanently hung into the trees.
This comprehensive project serves as a lasting tribute to Interlochen’s legacy and a forward-looking symbol as it embarks on its second century, integrating musical performance, visual art, and interactive elements across its grounds.