Nearly 50 adults in leadership roles at a prestigious music, arts and education campus tucked away in northern Michigan are accused of sexually abusing and exploiting at least 70 students over the course of several decades, according to the findings of a long-awaited independent investigation.
The accusations gleaned from approximately 180 interviews with former students and staff at Interlochen Center for the Arts offer a clear picture: For decades, multiple predators felt empowered to take advantage of young people isolated in the Michigan wilderness – and leaders either did not know about the misconduct, looked the other way or swept it under the rug.
“What crossed my mind was that this was the end of my life,” a former camper told investigators about a faculty member forcing himself on her in the woods after a musical event in the 1970s.
Pervy music instructors are as common as pervy priests. It’s practically a tradition.
When I was in high school, I had a girlfriend who was being groomed by a music teacher. It was obvious to me, but “they were just good friends,” according to her. Nothing ever happened, I’m sure of that, but that guy was definitely making moves. If I hadn’t been there to distract her most of the time, he would have had a lot more opportunity to work on her. He was a hairy little troll, he never stood stood a chance.
That they are. My former music instructor waited until I was 19 before asking if I would pose for his softcore porn photography site, but there were many uncomfortable moments in the eight years I knew him before that.
I almost attended Interlochen and I am so relieved I didn’t go.
Additional reporting:
“Two people accuse Epstein of sexual conduct at Michigan fine arts school” https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/29/jeffrey-epstein-interlochen-center-arts-michigan