15-year-old Vashon novelist to attend renowned art camp
Published 1:30 am Wednesday, June 21, 2023
This summer, Mickey Fontaine, 15, of Vashon, will attend Interlochen Arts Camp, the nation’s premier multidisciplinary summer arts program for young aspiring artists.
Fontaine, the son of Tamara Paris and Matt Fontaine, will study novel writing at Interlochen.
Some islanders will remember Fontaine’s commentaries, which have been published in The Beachcomber and The Loop. While Fontaine enjoys journalism, he is also passionate about fiction and has successfully completed two novels during “NaMoWriMo,” the National Novel Writing Month held each November.
In April, Fontaine also appeared in “The Ocean of Black Water (a deeper journey),” a work of ensemble theater developed by island teenagers through a partnership between UMO Ensemble, Orbit Teen Center, Open Space for Arts & Community, and Attention Artists at Work.
For the production, Fontaine also wrote an original score for bass guitar that he played live, and wrote and sang a neo-noir rap that brought down the house.
That same month, Fontaine traveled to Ballard where he played bass in the band of “14/48:HS” an instant theater and art festival produced, managed, and created entirely by high-school students.
Here on the island, Fontaine plays with the Orbit Music Club band, led by musicians Kevin Nortness and Kenny Alton as well as his own ensemble, Threds.
Fontaine, a lifelong, enthusiastic homeschooler, has achieved the rank of First Class in Scouts BSA Troop 178 and is on track in his pursuit of Eagle.
At Interlochen, artistic students ages 8-18 from around the world convene to expand their experience in music, theatre, dance, creative writing, visual arts, and film on the learning academy’s pristine 1,200-acre wooded campus.
The Camp’s distinguished alumni include Norah Jones, Josh Groban, Rufus Wainwright, Martha Graham Dance Company Artistic Director Janet Eilber, painter Laura Owens, New York Times theater critic Jesse Green, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Mary Oliver, actor Anthony Rapp, and many more.
Approximately 17 percent of the nation’s professional orchestra musicians have roots at Interlochen and the alumni community has been awarded nearly 100 Grammy Awards.
Interlochen also brings leading artists to its northern Michigan campus each summer. Recent Interlochen Arts Festival guests have included Joshua Bell, Harry Connick Jr., Diana Ross, Wynton Marsalis, Yo-Yo Ma, and Lady Antebellum.
