Malia Jean Keli Becker, 15, a junior at Hawaii Preparatory Academy, was accepted and will attend Interlochen Arts Camp, the world’s premier summer arts program for aspiring artists in grades 3-12. Becker is the daughter of Catherine Becker of Hilo,
Malia Jean Keli Becker, 15, a junior at Hawaii Preparatory Academy, was accepted and will attend Interlochen Arts Camp, the world’s premier summer arts program for aspiring artists in grades 3-12. Becker is the daughter of Catherine Becker of Hilo, and will study rhythm guitar at the camp.
Interlochen Arts Camp attracts students, faculty and staff from all 50 U.S. states and more than 40 countries. These 2,500 artists fill Interlochen’s northwoods campus with an explosion of creativity. Student-artists learn from world-class instructors and produce hundreds of presentations each summer in dance, theatre, creative writing, visual arts, music and film.
This past summer, Becker particpated in a Rock Camp at Art Park in Lewiston, N.Y., and fell in love with playing rhythm guitar. For the required Interlochen auditions, she submitted a video of her Art Park performance for the group audition along with a solo of her playing a song by my My Chemical Romance on her one-year anniversary of playing guitar this Christmas.
“I didn’t think I was good enough to be really considered for Interlochen, but I applied anyhow,” she said.
Previously, Becker studied piano for three years, most recently classical piano under the direction of Anthony Maroudas of Hilo. She taught herself guitar using computer programs and the Internet.
Interlochen Arts Camp is part of the nonprofit Interlochen Center for the Arts, recipient of the National Medal of Arts. For information, visit Interlochen online at www.interlochen.org.
