Idyllwild Arts Academy

Boarding Arts High School

Accepting Applications for Fall 2023
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Currently Accepting Applications for Fall 2023
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Changing Lives Through the Transformative Power of Art

The Idyllwild Arts Academy is the country’s premier and internationally-acclaimed residential arts high school (9th-12th; PG) (September through May) which provides pre-professional training in the arts and a comprehensive college preparatory curriculum to a diverse student body of gifted young artists. Idyllwild Arts Academy’s 300 students hail from more than 30 countries and pursue artistic excellence in Music, Theatre, Dance, Visual Art, Creative Writing, Film & Digital Media, InterArts, and Fashion Design. Graduates of Idyllwild Arts Academy currently excel in every professional field of the arts including Broadway theatre, primetime television, classical and jazz music, motion pictures, graphic design, photography and more.

Idyllwild Arts Academy Viewbook

STEAM at Idyllwild Arts

"As a filmmaker, I learned so much about my personal taste and my strengths from making movies at Idyllwild. That has really allowed me to make use of my time in college and start making things I’m proud of sooner."

Laura Holliday
Director & Actress.
Class of 2012, Moving Pictures

Idyllwild Arts

2019-06-03T16:43:25+00:00

Laura Holliday
Director & Actress.
Class of 2012, Moving Pictures

"As a filmmaker, I learned so much about my personal taste and my strengths from making movies at Idyllwild. That has really allowed me to make use of my time in college and start making things I’m proud of sooner."

https://idyllwildarts.org/testimonials/laura-holliday/

"Hilary Hahn came to Idyllwild when I was there and played the Edgar Meyer Concerto with the orchestra. She taught an informal masterclass and she said it was her first ever. She was brilliant, and so humble and nice!"

Yan Izquierdo
Violinist with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.
Class of 2002, Music

Idyllwild Arts

2019-06-04T09:09:08+00:00

Yan Izquierdo
Violinist with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.
Class of 2002, Music

"Hilary Hahn came to Idyllwild when I was there and played the Edgar Meyer Concerto with the orchestra. She taught an informal masterclass and she said it was her first ever. She was brilliant, and so humble and nice!"

https://idyllwildarts.org/testimonials/yan-izquierdo/

Idyllwild Arts and its music faculty, especially Marshall Hawkins, have made me the person I am today. Being surrounded by people who are passionate about art made me confident as an artist and human being."

Casey Abrams
Musician, Songwriter, Performer, Actor, Composer.
Class of 2009, Music

Idyllwild Arts

2019-06-03T16:16:04+00:00

Casey Abrams
Musician, Songwriter, Performer, Actor, Composer.
Class of 2009, Music

Idyllwild Arts and its music faculty, especially Marshall Hawkins, have made me the person I am today. Being surrounded by people who are passionate about art made me confident as an artist and human being."

https://idyllwildarts.org/testimonials/casey-abrams/

"Idyllwild is one of the most supportive, enriching, and artistically vibrant environments I have ever experienced. I was offered a wealth of creative opportunities and exposed to a unique community of artists from around the globe."

Elliot Mercer
Instructor of Visual & Performing Arts University of Colorado.
Class of 2005, Dance

Idyllwild Arts

2019-06-03T16:40:48+00:00

Elliot Mercer
Instructor of Visual & Performing Arts University of Colorado.
Class of 2005, Dance

"Idyllwild is one of the most supportive, enriching, and artistically vibrant environments I have ever experienced. I was offered a wealth of creative opportunities and exposed to a unique community of artists from around the globe."

https://idyllwildarts.org/testimonials/elliot-mercer/

"I felt welcomed immediately and knew that I belonged here. No one judges you and you can be who you are without any fear. Since my first day I’ve loved IAA and I’m proud to say that it’s my new home."

Daniela Rendon
University Student in the Netherlands.
Class of 2016, Dance

Idyllwild Arts

2019-06-04T09:07:46+00:00

Daniela Rendon
University Student in the Netherlands.
Class of 2016, Dance

"I felt welcomed immediately and knew that I belonged here. No one judges you and you can be who you are without any fear. Since my first day I’ve loved IAA and I’m proud to say that it’s my new home."

https://idyllwildarts.org/testimonials/daniela-rendon/

"Idyllwild’s Creative Writing program gave me the room and support I needed to expand my imagination in ways I never had thought of before, introducing me to screenwriting, which led me to major in film/video/animation at Rhode Island School of Design."

Ara Michelle Aranguri
Los Angeles based Artist & Feminist.
Class of 2005, Creative Writing

Idyllwild Arts

2019-06-04T09:03:46+00:00

Ara Michelle Aranguri
Los Angeles based Artist & Feminist.
Class of 2005, Creative Writing

"Idyllwild’s Creative Writing program gave me the room and support I needed to expand my imagination in ways I never had thought of before, introducing me to screenwriting, which led me to major in film/video/animation at Rhode Island School of Design."

https://idyllwildarts.org/testimonials/ara-michelle-aranguri/

"'Home' comes to mind when I think of Idyllwild Arts. In only two years, it made a huge difference in my life. As a New Zealander, coming to Idyllwild opened up a whole world of opportunities and possibilities for myself."

Alexandra (Alex) Gandionco
Singer & Music Teacher based in New Zealand.
Class of 2013, Music

Idyllwild Arts

2019-06-04T09:05:51+00:00

Alexandra (Alex) Gandionco
Singer & Music Teacher based in New Zealand.
Class of 2013, Music

"'Home' comes to mind when I think of Idyllwild Arts. In only two years, it made a huge difference in my life. As a New Zealander, coming to Idyllwild opened up a whole world of opportunities and possibilities for myself."

https://idyllwildarts.org/testimonials/alexandra-alex-gandionco/

"Why think of art as an isolated endeavor, when it can shape and profoundly impact our communities? Our students use their art to shape social, economic, technological, and environmental change as only creative thinkers can."

Marianne Kent-Stoll
Former Head of School

Idyllwild Arts

2020-10-27T12:00:26+00:00

Marianne Kent-Stoll
Former Head of School

"Why think of art as an isolated endeavor, when it can shape and profoundly impact our communities? Our students use their art to shape social, economic, technological, and environmental change as only creative thinkers can."

https://idyllwildarts.org/testimonials/marianne-kent-stoll/

"I feel our online teaching to be an enhancement, not a replacement for live teaching. Without a crystal ball, I see us working seamlessly in both mediums."

Don Reed
Songwriting & Guitar Faculty

Idyllwild Arts

2020-04-22T11:38:06+00:00

Don Reed
Songwriting & Guitar Faculty

"I feel our online teaching to be an enhancement, not a replacement for live teaching. Without a crystal ball, I see us working seamlessly in both mediums."

https://idyllwildarts.org/testimonials/don-reed/

"At Idyllwild, I learned how to see. Seeing through drawing, and then being nurtured to taking the next steps and make things with my own hands empowered me believe I could create the world as I imagined it should be."

Elora Hardy
Creative Director, Founder, Ibuku.
Class of 1999, Visual Art

Idyllwild Arts

2019-06-03T16:33:55+00:00

Elora Hardy
Creative Director, Founder, Ibuku.
Class of 1999, Visual Art

"At Idyllwild, I learned how to see. Seeing through drawing, and then being nurtured to taking the next steps and make things with my own hands empowered me believe I could create the world as I imagined it should be."

https://idyllwildarts.org/testimonials/elora-hardy/

Idyllwild Arts

Idyllwild Arts Academy In-Person Receptions

New York
Saturday, January 21, 2023

Los Angeles
Thursday, February 9, 2023

Palm Desert
Sunday, March 5, 2023

San Francisco
Thursday, April 6, 2023

ADMISSION

Looking to apply to the Idyllwild Arts Academy? Learn about our admission process and everything you need to know about joining the Idyllwild Arts Academy community of young artist from around the world.

LEARN MORE

PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT

Idyllwild Arts Land Acknowledgement

Idyllwild Arts respectfully acknowledges the Qawishpa Cahuillangnah (also known as Cahuilla Band of Indians) and all nine sovereign Bands of Cahuilla people who have stewarded this land throughout the generations and continue to steward this land for all future generations.