Classical IPR’s music director Dr. Amanda Sewell (holding the IPR sign, center) poses after an interview session for the podcast series “In Studio A” with members of the newly formed Act 2 Band, which gives adults the chance to learn or relearn musical instruments and play music together. IPR: Flourishing
From Interlochen Public Radio, the news is good this year. IPR is not just surviving but flourishing—and finding new ways to bolster capacity, listenership, and impact, even while many of its broadcasting peers are struggling. Philanthropy is the reason why. Your support— in concert with bold, stalwart leadership from station management—continues to amplify IPR’s reach and impact. Inspired to convey their emphatic support for IPR after the 2025 rescission of federal funding for public media,
listeners responded in a big way. Their generosity even enabled the station to expand its work, leading to new, vital initiatives on both IPR News and Classical IPR. Although challenges remain to solidify its long-term budget, the value of IPR “is only increasing,” thanks to the support of donors who “make northern Michigan stronger,” says Peter Payette, IPR’s executive director. We couldn’t agree more.
“Each of these musicians has deep ties to Interlochen, and they have a combined 116 summers working at Interlochen Arts Camp,” writes Dr. Sewell in the companion article for this podcast episode on interlochenpublicradio.org. “That's why they decided to learn how to play the Interlochen Theme together.”
Local Coverage Is Up, with a New ‘Lowdown’
Local coverage is the heart and soul of IPR News. The station’s insightful, carefully crafted stories about life in northern Michigan are what make IPR the vital community resource listeners—and supporters—cherish. This commitment to local news spurred a retooling this January of one of IPR News’ podcasts, the Up North Lowdown . Previously a weekly digest of regional news, it was reimagined as both a podcast and regular broadcast feature within weekday airings of NPR’s Morning Edition . Hosted by news director Ed Ronco, the relaunched Lowdown has covered a wide variety of subjects in 2026 so far, including a series of rainstorms in April that brought extraordinary flooding to low-lying parts of IPR’s listening area. On air and on listeners’ digital devices, the Lowdown keeps our community informed. Oftentimes, it keeps them safe, too.
During a live, on-location edition of the “Up North Lowdown” on July 3, 2026, timed to coincide with the kickoff of the 100th National Cherry Festival in Traverse City, host Ed Ronco interviews Kelli Kaberle Mengebier, president of the festival’s board of directors.
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