Enquire to study in the UK 
Nestled amidst the beautiful backdrop of the mountains of Southern California, you’ll find a sanctuary of musical innovation and artistic fervour — it’s called the Idyllwild Arts Academy. Ranked by Niche as the Best Private High School for the Arts in America for two years in a row, this is where students (grades 9-12 & postgraduate) begin to transform their passion into a profession, all whilst evolving into lifelong learners and global citizens.
The Heart of Jazz
“I see Idyllwild Arts as a small-scale music industry, where there are producers, jazz musicians, songwriters,” shares student Haru. “It lets me build that connection and I feel like that’s what’s really great — that it kind of prepares us before throwing us into that industry.”
Alongside a competitive college preparatory academic curriculum, Haru is pursuing the academy’s Jazz programme, which balances traditional and progressive Jazz Studies while covering improvisation, technique, ensemble skills, rhythm section skills, and computer notation.
Aside from the breadth of the curriculum, what makes studying Jazz at Idyllwild Arts so special is that students learn from and perform alongside working music industry professionals and well-known greats. The program was founded and is still led by visionary bassist Dr. Marshall Hawkins, who has toured around the world with Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock. Under his supervision, students learn by doing, and by feeling.
Source: Idyllwild Arts Academy
“Jazz is America’s music,” says Dr. Hawkins. “It’s a lifestyle. It brings about a level of consciousness in our country — but what makes it so unique is that anyone can be a part of this if they have the heart. This music has a ubiquitousness about it that no other music form has.” With this empowerment as their starting point, Idyllwild Arts Jazz students have many opportunities to apply their skills in real-world settings — whether it’s performing in ensembles, collaborating with peers on original compositions, traveling to renowned Jazz festivals, or participating in recording sessions.
Dr. Hawkins and his peers — like Grammy award-winning trumpeter John Daversa and esteemed guitarist and composer Tom Hynes — work tirelessly to share the magic. One of the ways they achieve this is through the Jazz in the Pines Student Clinic, a two-week summer session offering a rare chance for teens to perform alongside Jazz greats in an intimate festival environment. Learners follow a curriculum that checks everything from music theory and arrangement to improvisational techniques and master classes. Each day is filled with rehearsals, workshops and specialised coaching sessions.
Wield your passion for fashion with aplomb
Idyllwild’s Fashion Design programme represents the dynamic intersection of art and apparel. It’s also as thorough as many bachelor’s degree programmes, offering exceptional pre-professional training in draping, textiles, accessories, fashion history, fashion photography, and more. Students benefit from state-of-the-art classrooms with the latest resources — all of which are led by a distinguished faculty, who boast professional accomplishments including winning Project Runway, launching signature fashion collections, and designing costumes for major Broadway productions.
Kentaro Kameyama, winner of “Project Runway” Season 16, brings a wealth of experience and industry connections to the Academy. His long resume includes presenting collections in fashion capitals like New York, Los Angeles, and Paris, maintaining showrooms in downtown Los Angeles, and presenting a collection at an exclusive event hosted by the Asian Hall of Fame. His leadership, network, and mentorship provide students with unique opportunities and key insights into the professional fashion industry. In fact, he arranges masterclasses, field trips, and internships — all designed to give students real-world experience and a competitive edge in the industry. For two years running, Kameyama has brought the Senior Fashion students to present a collection on the runway at Los Angeles Fashion Week.
“I’m using many of the skills I’ve picked up at Idyllwild,” says Xinyu “Lisa” Li from China, who was participating in Gucci’s online learning programme at the time. “The academy taught me to design and produce exciting garments. Everything I’m doing now is similar to what I do back in California every day.”
Apply to Idyllwild Arts Academy today.
Follow Idyllwild Arts Academy on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and Vimeo
