Casey Abrams '09 

This shot, from Casey's camera phone, says volumes about the warm reception Casey received when he returned home to Idyllwild following the American Idol Season 10 Tour to over 50 cities. The block party event, sponsored by Café Aroma, was a true show of appreciation for all Casey has accomplished.  

Casey said the event wasn't a party for him but a thank you to all his fans and their great support. Making up the combo was Lake Jiroudek '12, Nora Germain '09, jazz faculty members, Marshall Hawkins and Paul Carman, and long time Jazz in the Pines performer, Yve Evans. Click here to see a video of the party produced by Idyllwild's own Stephen Savage.

Casey's dreams include making an album, acting, scoring films, singing his jazz and rock, and sitting at his computer composing and orchestrating. Check back here for announcements as he continues his journey towards reaching these dreams.

"Kenza" Will Touch Your Heart 

To all our donors who are making an impact, a note from a parent of a student beginning her senior year:

New Leadership at Idyllwild Arts 

Careful planning and active involvement by the entire Idyllwild Arts community - board, faculty, staff, associates, and alumni - provided a smooth passing of the baton from retired President Bill Lowman to new President Brian D. Cohen who began his duties on July 1, 2011 and has hit the ground running.  

She includes words from graduate Samuel Chan '11, a classically trained vocalist who now studies vocal performance at the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music. He says,   

"I not only had the chance to be with like-minded individuals who had similar goals as my own, but I also had the chance to meet creative, unique personalities, who offered to me a new outlook and point of view. I found a school that allowed my dreams to come true, while allowing me a place to develop new dreams." 

President Cohen Sets Goals for  

Environmental and Economic Sustainability  

At 12, Moises joined a gang just as his father had; he earned his stripes by doing as he was told. He doesn't want to talk about his past, but his numerous tattoos silently tell the story. At 15, he was with his home boy in the park and a white car pulled up, a window went down. There was the gun, his friend was down; shot in the lower right abdomen. Moises said he could hear the bullets fly past within inches of his head. It was with this experience that he knew he needed to change his life. He had a choice; he could stay with the gang or find a way out.

Moises found a program called Bienvinedos which helps teens attain goals and stay on a positive track. He got out of the gang and his family moved a hundred blocks away. There still are times other gang members recognize his tattoos. He found Tela Sofa, a non-profit organization run by Juan Escobedo. Tela Sofa created the East Los Angeles Film Festival and that is where Moises received a scholarship to attend the Idyllwild Arts Summer Program. Tela Sofa awards one scholarship each year; a program sponsored by Idyllwild Arts board members Tony and Christina Echavarria. His teachers say, Moises did a remarkable job in the 3-week Moving Pictures program this past summer.

In his own words, Moises describes the third week of his experience at Idyllwild Arts. "Post production, my personal favorite! Every cinematographer got to edit the movies they shot. Class started around 9:30 am and ended around 11 pm. After the rough cut, we proofed our work and started scoring music. Everything was a bit stressful because the director was very demanding and things kept changing. The last day of post production everyone stayed up all night in order to finish the film, but it was all worth it, when the very next day our film got shown in a theater and we all got to see our finished product. I was very proud of everyone, our films looked great!!!"   

Moises is pictured here with Juan Escobedo of TELA SOFA (The East Los Angeles Society of Film and Arts).

Askim Wins Award for Promoting New Composers

Peter Askim, Music Director and Composer-in-Residence at Idyllwild Arts, has received an award from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP). The ASCAP award reflects Peter's commitment to assist and encourage composers.   

In past New Music concerts, the Idyllwild Arts Academy Orchestra has performed music written exclusively for them by such notable composers as Richard Daniepour, Ezra Laderman, Christopher Theofanidis, Bruce Adolphe, Rufus Reid, Pierre Jalbert, Jan Radzynski, Lawrence Dillon, Roger Myers, and Peter himself. Every spring, the Idyllwild Arts Academy Orchestra performs an exciting program of world premieres.    

Elora Hardy '99 Designs Sustainable Homes In Bali 

Alumnus appointed Distinguished Visiting Faculty

Liang Wang, class of '99, has been appointed Distinguished Visiting Faculty at Idyllwild Arts. Liang came to America alone at age 15 on a full scholarship to the Academy. He gives credit to Idyllwild's ESL program and the music faculty at IA for launching his extraordinary career as a professional musician.  

Paavo Jarvi, the music director of the Cincinnati Symphony said, "Liang is a good example of what's right with musical education here at the highest level." Liang holds, among other prestigious positions, the Principal Oboe of the New York Philharmonic. Liang Wang was named honorary professor at the Beijing Central Conservatory and is on the faculty of New York University. Liang will perform a concerto with the Idyllwild Academy Orchestra on December 3 on the IA campus.

Traditions of Giving At Idyllwild Arts

Idyllwild Arts Foundation has received a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator

America's largest and most-utilized independent evaluator of charities, Charity Navigator, has given Idyllwild Arts Foundation the highest distinction, a 4-star rating. Click here to instantly access their unbiased and objective ratings data.  

"Do what inspires you. Whether or not you go on to a career in the arts, it doesn't matter because life has a way of leading you in unexpected directions. The fact is it is the not knowing what you will be doing in ten years that keeps things interesting."

That statement came from Matt Bissinger, class of 1988, who has the distinction of being the longest continuous alumni donor to Idyllwild Arts. He recalls Idyllwild as a transformative period in his life. He says, "Arriving with the first crop of students ever, my class had a particularly strong camaraderie that comes from being part of something totally new. Looking back, there was a lot of improvisation by the faculty and administration. In many cases, I think the rules were made up only after we broke them, so we were all winging it to some degree."

"I didn't go on to an artistic career but have worked for many years in arts management and continue to remain involved in the arts. I did teach a photography class for a summer which was fun. Art has translated into many areas of my life; Idyllwild Arts gave me the opportunity to do the things I loved. I had not been a stellar student before I arrived at Idyllwild, but being in an arts environment motivated me to be a better student."

Currently, Matt is the Legacy Gifts Officer at the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco. He is also co-founder and owner of Bae Home & Design, a six-year-old home furnishing and décor business sourcing from local artists and designers. After Idyllwild Arts, he studied at Sarah Lawrence College. He has been a Board Member at Friends of the San Francisco Public Library, worked as a Leadership Gifts Officer at the San Francisco Opera, and subsequently as the Western Regional Major Gifts Officer for Lambda Legal, where he now continues to serve voluntarily on their National Leadership Council.

As a fundraiser for non-profits, giving to causes like Idyllwild Arts is really a very intrinsic thing. He gives because Idyllwild occupied an important part of his life and he values the time he spent here. Matt wants the students at Idyllwild Arts now and in the future to have an equally memorable experience. "The important thing is that even if you can only give $10 per year, your consistent giving adds up over time. That's the bread and butter for every non-profit organization. Even $10 makes a difference over the long haul."