The Beginning

Founded in 1968, with the purpose of providing scholarship monies to the school, which was then owned and operated as Idyllwild School for Music and the Arts (ISOMATA) by the University of Southern California. The Associates of IAF also provides cultural activities for the Idyllwild community.

In the early years, the Associates contributed many hours of volunteer time to help meet the school's needs: assistance with Summer Program registration, office tasks such as mailings and newsletters, maintaining landscaping, shoveling snow, and also purchasing needed items large (a piano) and small (office supplies).

A Boarding High School is Created

There were many areas in which the Associates helped when it was decided to start a boarding high school of the arts which was opened in 1986.

The school issued a call for donated books to start a library, and Associates worked with staff to set up the catalog system and card files. Shelves were hand made and had the appearance of fine furniture. The library was open when the students arrived.

There was a need for tutoring help in English, math, literature and science. With no budget to hire tutors in the early years, the Associates stepped in. Retired schoolteachers, a book publisher, and those who had special expertise in various fields willingly gave time to tutor the students.

It was often difficult for students to return home during holidays and breaks either for financial or distance reasons. Associates volunteered to house these students and take them on outings in Southern California. This tradition continues today.

Associates have volunteered their skills to help the various departments building easels for the Visual Arts Department, making costumes and props for the Theatre Department, providing cases for large instruments when the Chamber Orchestra traveled, driving students to and from LAX and private music lessons off the Hill.

Today

The Associates continue to be dedicated to supporting programs of the Idyllwild Arts Foundation. Members raise scholarship funds for both the Idyllwild Arts Summer Program and the high school Arts Academy through annual membership contributions and special fundraising events.

Our mountains are indeed alive with the sound of music, at Associates' fundraisers such as auction events, our musicales, and the renowned Jazz in the Pines festival presented over a weekend in August.

Associates also provide volunteer service to the campus and sponsor cultural activities and seminars for the local community. At the many concerts and performances that take place on the campus of Idyllwild Arts, we watch exceptional young people bloom before our very eyes -- it's tremendously rewarding!

Individually members contribute time and money to help students and their families when needed. In 2007 individual members contributed money to send a group of students to the Internationl Society of Bassists Convention in Oklahoma City where one of the IA students passed on to the finals competing with talented students from around the world.

As of 2007 membership in the Associates has reached over 350. Through membership dues, special fundraising and our Endowment Fund, over $133,000 was contributed to Idyllwild Arts in scholarships.

Membership is open to everyone -- in Idyllwild, the surrounding desert communities and other locations "off the Hill."