Music Institute Moves From Ravinia To Lake Forest College

LAKE FOREST, IL — After more than a decade training advanced young musicians at the Ravinia Festival campus in Highland Park, the Music Institute of Chicago Academy recently moved to the Lake Forest College campus.

Last month, the Music Institute's pre-conservatory program for string and piano musicians aged 12 to 18 held its first full day of in-person instruction since it shifted to remote classes in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic.

The academy offers an intensive 30-week program for young people aspiring to become professional musicians. The program's series of nine-hour Saturdays feature private lessons, accelerated music theory, chamber music and chamber orchestra experience, and weekly master classes.

Scott Edgar, chair of the Lake Forest College Music Department and band director, said in a statement that staff are thrilled for the college to be the institute's new home.

“We look forward to developing this relationship to further both the Academy and Lake Forest’s tradition of musical excellence building on each of our strengths," Edgar said. "We are excited to be able to offer the Academy students and families our campus to explore their musicianship in a collegiate environment while exposing our students to some of the best teachers and young musicians in the world.”

As part of its new arrangement with the college, Lake Forest College music students will be invited to the master classes.

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Academy leaders had to find a new home after the Ravinia Festival Association representatives informed them that they would no longer be able to use its John D. Harza Building since the space is needed to expand neighborhood outreach offerings, according to a joint announcement from the college and institute.

"Academy students had performed on several occasions in beautiful Lily Reid Holt Memorial Chapel at Lake Forest College, so I was familiar with the lovely grounds and the acoustics in the chapel, which would pair well with our orchestra and chamber music, as well as our master classes," said Sue Polutnik, vice president and chief operating officer of the institute.

"If the music building could accommodate all our group classes, I knew the gorgeous stone buildings and pastoral campus were equal to the prestige of the program," she added.

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This year's academy class includes 35 students from the Chicago area, as well as young musicians hailing from Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin. The 2021-22 class had the highest number of auditions of the past five years.

Academy Director Jim Setapen spoke to the students during the first day of classes at Lake Forest Campus on Sept. 25, which included a placement exam for theory class, coaching, history and improvisation, according to the institute. Setapen told the students they were fortunate to combine exceptional talent with awareness of what they are passionate about.

"The inspiration these young people receive from the Academy's extraordinary faculty—and from each other—in this unique program," Setapen said, "elevates them to exceed their goals year after year."