SLS Student Musicians Explore Their Talents Worldwide

St. Luke’s student musicians do remarkable things here on the Hilltop, from Blues Band and Coffeehouses to Winter Band Concerts and State of the School performances. This summer, some of our artists went above and beyond what they ever thought possible. Below, students share their experiences attending prestigious music schools, competing internationally, and even going viral on TikTok.

 

Jack Aronian ’27
My time at Interlochen Center for the Arts was a life-changing experience. I learned so much about my instrument and made many friends during my three weeks there! The campus was beautiful, and the instructors were truly top-notch in all aspects. 

I took Popular Music, which is a lot like Blues Band at SLS. We had three or four songs that we honed to perfection over the course of 21 days. We were randomly sorted into six to seven-person bands, each with an instrument specialist in drums, vocals, keyboard, guitar, and base. I was lucky enough to be in a band with another drummer, so we could compare ideas and ask each other for help when needed. 

Aside from the band, the campus was breathtaking. Interlochen is a boarding school solely devoted to the arts. Their 1,200 acres of land are beautiful and on a lake where we could swim and hang with our cabin mates during our free time. That was one of the best parts of the entire experience for me.

At the end of the three weeks, we performed in Corsun Auditorium in front of all our families, friends, and the rest of the camp. Overall, this experience was unforgettable, and I look forward to returning next year!   

 

Laurel Aronian ’25
At the start of Blues Band this year, I was surprised when Ms. Lauer told me that she went to Interlochen Camp for the Arts — the summer camp I've attended for the past few years (my brother, Jack, attended for the first time this year). Though Jack and I both went for the Popular Music Program (I did voice, and he did drums), the camp is open to all artists. We spent three weeks practicing songs, learning about the music business, and taking lessons, culminating in a concert in front of our campmates, families, and Michigan residents. 

I strongly recommend Interlochen to all student artists — the teachers are excellent, the programs are top-notch, and I still keep in contact with the friends I made in my first year. (Three of my closest friends were incidentally violinists and cellists; it's easy to make friends outside of your area of interest since the bunks are mixed-discipline.) 

Interlochen also offers all the classic summer camp activities like swimming, tennis, and boating. I loved playing UNO at Lake Michigan beach, listening to spooky stories in the dead of night, having s'more bonfires, and waking up at 6 a.m. to run 5ks. Yet through it all, the music arts at the camp truly made my experiences there unforgettable. 

 

This summer, I performed at the prestigious Warsaw National Philharmonic Concert Hall in Poland as the Second Prize Winner and the Chopin Ballade Award recipient at the Chopin Avenue International Piano Competition. After the concert, I participated in the two-week summer music festival in Katowice, Poland, where I had two more shows, including one at Pszczyna Castle. I made many friends from around the world. I was also selected to take lessons by a legendary professor, Andrzej Jasinski.

 

Robert Lang ’28
Last year, Ms. Lauer suggested that I apply to her college, Manhattan School of Music, for their summer program in Jazz. The school is in Harlem, a major hub for jazz music. 

With her help, I prepared two pieces for the audition, which I had to film and send electronically. I was eventually admitted to the three-week program. Each day, the classes went from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. I took Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Music Theory, Jazz Combo, Improvisation, Basics of Pop Music Production, Overview of Jazz Legends, and Video Game Music. I expanded my Tenor Saxophone skills and learned a lot about the background of the music I've been playing at St. Luke's. I met other students from as far away as China, and many attending arts schools in the city.  

I also enjoyed learning about living in and traveling around Manhattan! Ms. Lauer was able to see our end-of-summer performance. It was especially fun for her because her classmate and friend from college, Norman Edwards, was my ensemble director. He was incredibly engaging and dynamic, and I learned a lot from him.

 

Annie Meyer ’26
Over the summer, I participated in Berklee College of Music’s guitar program, which focused mainly on blues guitar. While there, they offered me a full-ride scholarship for next summer's five-week program! 

 

Maggie Rosow ’26
Last year, Greer McCaffery ’26, a group of School of Rock students, and I formed an all-girls rock band called The Corduroys. We started rehearsing almost every week to prepare for upcoming gigs. 

This summer, we gained unexpected attention on TikTok. It was a surreal experience: Producers reached out with interest, offers for gigs flooded in, and viewers expressed their admiration. 

We have all dreamed of a future in the music industry. This experience gave us a glimpse into those opportunities and motivated us to continue to work on original music and prepare for gigs. It has been such a rewarding experience and something I will never forget.