ACCESS | Young Artist Destination
Creating Paths for Others to be Drawn Here
Since childhood, music has been among the greatest joys for Dr. Gordon Shecket (IAC/NMC 60-66). It’s no surprise that pursuing his passion for music has kept Gordon coming back to Interlochen, year after year. Now, it’s prompted him to create an endowed scholarship so that future generations may do the same. Gordon’s first exposure to Interlochen was a series of fond, impactful summers at Camp. Over the years, while deepening his love and faculty for the bassoon, he played under guest conductor Howard Hanson and alongside world-renowned pianist Van Cliburn. He also performed Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf with narrator Luci Baines Johnson, daughter of President Lyndon Johnson. For decades, Gordon has been drawn back to Interlochen. Whether for the Adult Chamber Music Camp or Symphonic Band Camp, Gordon has returned to Interlochen most years between 1989 and present. In September 2023, Gordon made a generous gift via distributions from his retirement account to create the Gordon Shecket Endowed Camp Scholarship. This need-based scholarship will enable future generations to have their own transformative experiences at Interlochen.
“I learned more in my eight weeks at Camp than I did the rest of the year. With this scholarship, I hope to pass along to a student who might not otherwise be able to come to Interlochen some of the same joy in the arts that I’ve experienced.” — Dr. Gordon Shecket (IAC/NMC 60-66)
Supporting Journeys of Current and Future Academy Students Robert Bracken (IAC/NMC 73, IAA 73-75) and husband George Thomas Applegate have established two new, unrestricted scholarships for Interlochen Arts Academy: one in their names and the other, the Robert and Margaret Bracken Academy Scholarship, honoring Robert’s parents. Robert and George chose to give in a way that benefits Academy students both now and for generations to come. They are making annual gifts to award the scholarships right away, and a planned gift from their estate will endow the scholarships into perpetuity. “I feel very fortunate to have had the incredible opportunity to attend Academy thanks to the support of my parents. The years at Interlochen were life-changing for me, and George and I created these scholarships so students could have their own experiences and journeys at Interlochen.” — Robert Emslie Bracken (IAC/NMC 73, IAA 73-75)
Robert Bracken (left) and George Applegate (right)
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2024 ANNUAL REPORT
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