Alumni & Support

Your investment in CCM is an investment in our students and in securing the future of the performing and digital arts. We count on your support to further CCM’s mission and support the unique educational experiences that have earned CCM its reputation for excellence.

Whether you invest in CCM through direct donations, attending performances, sharing your time and talents or a combination of the three, thank you. Your investment in CCM is an investment in our students, faculty and in the what comes NEXT in the arts.

Alumni

CCM's dynamic and influential alumni network includes over 14,500 artists, teachers, entrepreneurs, researchers, leaders and professionals around the world. The support of our generous alumni financially, or through the donation of your time and talent provides an exceptional experience for our current students and fosters a culture of excellence at the college. 

Are you ready to engage with CCM? Find your niche as an engaged and active alumna or alumnus by coming to social events, returning to campus for a performance or master class, volunteering, networking or giving back to the college. Continue your relationship with us beyond graduation.

Learn more about upcoming ways to get involved. 


Alumni News

2

Now streaming: CCM’s season-opening performance of Mahler’s...

October 16, 2024

The UC College-Conservatory of Music opened its 2024-25 concert series in epic fashion on Saturday, Sept. 21, with a sold out performance of Gustav Mahler’s colossal Symphony No. 2, “Resurrection," in Corbett Auditorium. The entire performance is now available for on-demand streaming below, including opening remarks by new CCM Dean Pete Jutras. This performance of Mahler's Resurrection Symphony features the combined forces of the CCM Philharmonia student orchestra, CCM Chamber Choir, CCM Chorale and UC Choruses, along with alumni guest artists Amanda Woodbury (soprano) and Kayleigh Decker (mezzo-soprano). CCM faculty member Mark Gibson conducts.

3

BLINK: CCM students create lighting design on 'Insane 51' mural

October 8, 2024

UC College-Conservatory of Music students are lighting Cincinnati during BLINK, the nation's largest immersive art and light event. Illuminated by ArtsWave, BLINK transforms 30+ city blocks from Over-the-Rhine through Northern Kentucky on Oct. 17-20, 2024.

4

A harpist in the US Marine Band: Spotlight on CCM alumna Taylor...

September 23, 2024

CCM alumna Taylor Fleshman joined "The President's Own" United States Marine Band as the harpist in July 2023. A Staff Sergeant in the Marine Corps., Fleshman's role as the Marine Band's harpist includes being a featured soloist when the ensemble performs at the White House and in annual concert tours across the country.

5

CCM Opera and Voice alums reunite at Operalia

September 20, 2024

Considered by many to be the most prestigious international opera competition, Operalia has helped launch the careers of some of the genre’s brightest stars. Each year, a select number of opera’s most promising young singers are invited from a pool of hundreds of applicants to participate. This year, three CCM alumni were among those selected to compete in Mumbai, India.

6

CCM ranks in top 10 most represented colleges on Broadway

September 16, 2024

The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music has once again been named as one of Playbill’s “Big 10.” Ranked as one of the top star-producing institutions in the nation, CCM was represented by at least 24 alumni performing on Broadway stages during the 2023-24 season according to Playbill's coverage.

8

Tony Nominee Dorian Harewood receives BFA from CCM

August 9, 2024

Tony nominee Dorian Harewood was honored with a BFA in Musical Theatre from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music on August 8. Harewood studied at CCM, but left the university in 1972 prior to graduating to pursue his first acting offer.

10

CCM alum Donald Lawrence to be inducted into Cincinnati Black...

July 16, 2024

UC College-Conservatory of Music alumnus Donald Lawrence is part of the 2024 class of Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame inductees. Located at the Banks in downtown Cincinnati, the induction ceremony on July 27 will feature a parade of stars and a free concert by the Zapp Band.

12

Tony-nominated lighting designer Isabella Byrd is not afraid of...

June 12, 2024

Broadway.com features UC College-Conservatory of Music alumna Isabella Byrd ahead of the 2024 Tony Awards. Byrd received two Tony Award Nominations — Best Lighting Design of a Play for An Enemy of the People and Best Lighting Design of a Musical for Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club.

13

CCM listed in Tony Awards 'Schools of the Stars'

June 6, 2024

Curious to know where the 2024 Tony Award nominees received their theatre education? Playbill created a list of the eight schools that contain the most Tony nominees — and UC's College-Conservatory of Music is tied for third.

15

Four CCM alumni nominated in 2024 Tony Awards

June 3, 2024

Four UC College-Conservatory of Music alumni are named nominees in the 77th annual Tony Awards, recognizing the excellent work shared in Broadway productions during the 2023-24 season. The nominees, announced Tuesday, April 30, include Isabella Byrd (BFA Lighting Design and Technology, ’09), Shoshana Bean (BFA Musical Theatre, '99), Dorian Harewood and Leslie Kritzer (BFA Musical Theatre, '99).

16

US Coast Guard Band's 'Heartland Harmonies' tour presents...

May 20, 2024

The United States Coast Guard Band brings its "Heartland Harmonies" concert tour to UC's College-Conservatory of Music on Tuesday, June 25, 2024. The free concert is presented in Corbett Auditorium as part of the band's tour through the American South and Midwest regions for public performances and educational outreach.

17

CCM Voice alumna receives Richard Tucker Career Grant

May 16, 2024

A UC College-Conservatory of Music alumna recently received the 2024 Richard Tucker Career Grant and made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera. Elena Villalón (BM Voice, ’19) is one of three recipients of the $10,000 grant from the Richard Tucker Music Foundation.

18

Donate instruments at LINKS drive on May 10-11

May 6, 2024

Through the Lonely Instruments for Needy Kids (LINKS) program, you can donate your used band or orchestra instrument to a young musician who cannot afford to rent or purchase their own. The LINKS instrument donation drive is at 10 a.m.-4 p.m. this Friday, May 10, and Saturday, May 11 2024, at any Willis Music or Buddy Rogers Music location. A project of CCMpower in partnership with Willis Music and Buddy Roger’s Music, LINKS began in 1994 as the brainchild of CCM alumnus Bill Harvey (BM Music Education, 1971). The owner of Buddy Roger’s Music, Harvey wanted to fill the need for students whose parents were unable to buy, rent or borrow an instrument. The solution was to create a “recycling program” for musical instruments.

19

CCM alumnus wins 2024 Solti Conducting Award

May 6, 2024

UC College-Conservatory of Music alumnus François López-Ferrer (BM Composition, ‘12) is the recipient of the prestigious Sir Georg Solti Conducting Award, awarded annually to a promising American conductor 36 years of age or younger. One of the largest of its kind, it provides essential career guidance, industry connections and a cash award of $30,000 to aid grant recipients as they further hone the skills of their craft.

20

Piano alumna Brianna Matzke premieres TREMOR project at American...

May 3, 2024

TREMOR is a performance art project created in response to Brianna Matzke's essential tremor diagnosis. It features a world premiere piano concert and panel discussion at 6 p.m. on May 5, 2024 at the American Sign Museum. The project also includes an art opening, with musical responses from local new-music ensemble concert:nova on April 28 at The Well.

22

CCM shares 2024 alumni and distinguished service awards

April 26, 2024

UC's College-Conservatory of Music is proud to present alumni and distinguished service awards to outstanding members of our community at the end of each academic year. The 2024 awards are presented to four accomplished alumni and one dedicated patron in a private virtual event on April 23.

24

CCM alums win prestigious grants from the Sphinx Organization

April 22, 2024

The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music is thrilled to congratulate alums Titilayo Ayangade (BM Cello, ’14) and Jaime Sharp (MM Voice, ’22) on their recent wins of two MPower Artist Grants from the Sphinx Organization. Available only to alumni of the Sphinx Organization, these competitive grants are intended to “empower artists’ careers.”

25

WATCH: Mini documentary explores how CCM students bring a...

March 12, 2024

In a new short film created by CCM's Production Master Class, viewers can peek backstage to see how the September 2023 production of the musical rom-com Sweet Charity was designed and run by a team of students from throughout the college's Theatre Design and Production Department. Current CCM students Kali Ashurst, Baron Leon, Clara Cavins and Claire Bonnette, along with alumni guest artist Joshua E. Gallagher, discuss how they put their education into action while creating this acclaimed production.

26

CCM alumna wins second prize at Felix Mendelssohn International...

March 11, 2024

The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) alumna Chaowen Ting (MM Orchestral Conducting, ‘11) recently won second prize at the Felix Mendelssohn Conducting Competition. Held annually Karlovy Vary, in the Czech Republic, the Mendelssohn Competition draws talent from all over the world, and past awardees hold posts at major symphonies and operas in Europe, America and Asia.

27

New York Times spotlights East Coast premiere of 'Blind...

February 23, 2024

The New York Times recently featured the East Coast premiere of "Blind Injustice," an opera based on true exonerations achieved by the Ohio Innocence Project. The production opened on Feb. 16 , 2024, at Peak Performances at Montclair State University. Premiered in 2019 at Cincinnati Opera, the opera was first workshopped through Opera Fusion: New Works (OF:NW), a collaboration between Cincinnati Opera and UC College-Conservatory of Music.

28

UC Alumni Association names top alumni award winners to be...

February 16, 2024

Each year, the UC Alumni Association (UCAA) honors a select few of its more than 340,000 alumni based on their career accomplishments and contributions to the university and community, recognizing them during Alumni Week festivities each spring.

29

New CCM apparel available for purchase online

February 14, 2024

Show your school spirit this spring with official CCM apparel! New UC College-Conservatory of Music apparel is available for purchase online. CCM's Spring 2024 t-shirt and hoodie designs can be ordered online now through March 18, 2024.

31

CCM Bassoon and Flute alums win orchestra positions at Minnesota...

February 12, 2024

UC College-Conservatory of Music celebrates the amazing successes of recent alumni, Jessica Findley Yang (MM Bassoon, ’16) and Hannah Peterson (BM Flute, ‘12), who both won principal positions with the Minnesota Opera Orchestra in the group’s most recent auditions. This GRAMMY-nominated, Pulitzer-Prize winning group is based in Minneapolis, and boasts an impressive playbill each season.

32

CCM Voice student receives Encouragement Award at prestigious...

February 9, 2024

UC College-Conservatory of Music undergraduate Voice student Sam Dhobhany recently won the Ana Maria Martinez Encouragement Award in Houston Grand Opera’s 2024 Eleanor McCollum Competition for Young Singers. Dhobhany, a bass-baritone in the studio of Professor Ken Shaw, competed in Houston on February 2 during the “Concert of Arias,” the competition’s live-broadcasted final round.

33

CCM Voice alum named one of Yamaha’s “40 Under 40”

February 9, 2024

Yamaha honors the work of music educators with the "40 Under 40" list, highlighting young teachers and pedagogues who bring innovation to their classrooms. UC College-Conservatory of Music alumna Paulina Villarreal (DMA Voice ’18, MM Voice ‘15) made the 2024 list for her work as an Assistant Professor of Voice at the University of Memphis. Her efforts to diversify the curriculum's repertoire brought important awareness to lesser-known composers from underrepresented backgrounds.

34

CCM alum Joélle Harvey featured in upcoming CSO performances

February 1, 2024

CCM alumna Joélle Harvey (BM Voice ‘07, MM Voice ‘09) will join the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and the May Festival Chorus for three performances of Johannes Brahms' large-scale Ein Deutsches Requiem (A German Requiem) at Cincinnati Music Hall later this month. Presented as part of Louis Langrée's final season as music director of the CSO, this large-scale work was written for orchestra and chorus with soprano and baritone soloists, and the CSO's Feb. 9-11 performances will feature Harvey as the soprano soloist, along with baritone soloist Will Liverman in his debut with the CSO.

35

CCM alumna achieves historic first in renowned military band

January 30, 2024

The UC College-Conservatory of Music has numerous alums employed by military bands all across the nation. However, one such luminary recently made history, achieving an unprecedented honor: Adrienne Doctor (BM Music Ed, ’11; MM Trumpet, ’15), the first female drum major to lead a band at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery.

36

CCM student wins first place in American Prize

January 30, 2024

The UC College-Conservatory of Music is thrilled to congratulate DMA composition students Kevin Li, who was recently named the winner of the 2023 American Prize in Composition university division, and Wenbin Lyu, who was awarded 3rd place in the same competition.

37

Student-led short film premieres at Slamdance Film Festival

January 19, 2024

Hollywood may be synonymous with the film industry and big-budget blockbusters, but you can find talented filmmakers in every corner of the country. For Clark Comstock and Claire Foley, what began as a class project turned into a major opportunity — their short film "Kayla Baby" will premiere at the Slamdance Film Festival on January 22 and 24 in Park City, Utah.

39

In the News: CCM performs at New York's Carnegie Hall

January 16, 2024

UC College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) students and Broadway alumni took the stage at Carnegie Hall to present a one-night-only performance and fundraiser to help support the next generation of performing and media artists. The January 14 event honored CCM alumnus Stephen Flaherty while also raising money for CCM scholarships and educational initiatives.

41

A musical journey to Carnegie Hall

Event: January 14, 2024 7:00 PM

The CCM community is buzzing with excitement as preparations kick into high gear for what has become the most anticipated performance of the year. The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music Honors Alumnus Stephen Flaherty features an all-star lineup of UC alumni alongside 100 current CCM students from musical theater, dance and orchestral studies.

43

VOTE: BroadwayWorld Awards highlight CCM excellence

December 5, 2023

Each year, the BroadwayWorld Awards honor excellence in the city’s performing arts scene. This year, the faculty and students of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) are nominated 20 times in 11 categories—including Best Musical, Best Opera, Best Choreography, Best Sound Design, and more!

44

CCM Brass Choir presents Betty Glover tribute concert on Nov. 12

November 6, 2023

CCM celebrates the legacy of trailblazing trombonist Betty Glover in a tribute concert at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 12, at St. Mary's Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption in Covington, Kentucky. Featuring the CCM Brass Choir, the performance features student and faculty artists, guest artists from the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, alumni and more.

45

CCM presents Stephen Flaherty tribute at New York's Carnegie Hall

Event: January 14, 2024 7:00 PM

Recently dubbed by Playbill Magazine as one of Broadway’s “Big 10,” the UC College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) unites Broadway stars and current students in a one-night-only performance to honor Tony Award-winning composer Stephen Flaherty at Carnegie Hall in New York on Jan. 14, 2024.

47

Playbill: CCM ranks in top 10 most represented colleges on...

September 25, 2023

The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music has once again been named as one of Playbill’s “Big 10.” Ranked as one of the top star-producing institutions in the nation, CCM was represented by at least 24 alumni performing on Broadway stages during the ’22-23 season.

48

UC Foundation president set to retire

September 18, 2023

Peter Landgren, President of the University of Cincinnati Foundation and Vice President of University Advancement, has announced his retirement. Landgren, a proud alumnus of the UC College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), has held his position since October 2017.

49

CCM Trumpet alum tours USA with 'The Book of Mormon'

August 29, 2023

The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music congratulates alum Sean McKay (MM Trumpet, ‘20) on his recent appointment to "The Book of Mormon" National Tour pit orchestra. Returning after a two-year pandemic-induced hiatus, this nine-time Tony Award winning musical adds numerous new stops for its 2023-24 season.

50

CCM hosts guest lecture on large-scale tonality in rock music

Event: September 1, 2023 1:30 PM

Each semester, CCM's Thinking About Music Lecture Series welcomes distinguished experts for musical discussions and lectures that are open to the general public and free to attend. The series continues at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 1, with a presentation by CCM alum Brett Clement (PhD Music Theory, 2009), an Associate Professor of Music Theory at Ball State University. The title of Clement's talk is "Analyzing Large-Scale Tonality in Rock Music: Steady-Scale and Steady-Tonic Systems." The lecture will be presented in the Baur Room of CCM's Corbett Center for the Performing Arts.

51

CCM Media Production faculty, alumna win Emmy Awards for sports...

August 18, 2023

A faculty member and an alumna of UC College-Conservatory of Music's Media Production program won National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Emmys during the 2023 award cycle. Professor Joe Brackman won an Ohio Valley Emmy Award in the Director category and alumna Paula Gibson Pujol (BFA '19) won a Northwest Regional Emmy in the Sports Program, Post-Produced or Edited category.

52

CCM names Nick Photinos as new Eminent Scholar in Chamber Music

July 25, 2023

UC College-Conservatory of Music Interim Dean Jonathan Kregor has announced the addition of Nick Photinos to the college’s roster of distinguished performing and media arts faculty members. A four-time Grammy Award-winning cellist, Photinos begins his new role as CCM’s Professor of Chamber Music and Eminent Scholar on Aug. 15, 2023.

53

CCM students and alums recently win positions in orchestras,...

July 18, 2023

Auditioning for a professional ensemble can be a stressful experience. It often involves mastering or memorizing difficult repertoire, travel and multiple rounds of auditions and interviews — plus countless hours spent in practice rooms to rehearse. We celebrate the CCM stars who recently won positions with professional ensembles throughout the country! These students and recent graduates show a glimpse into the college's expanding network of professionals working and thriving in the performing arts landscape.

56

Making music and paying it forward

May 31, 2023

Newly minted University of Cincinnati alum Hayden Glasgow says the path to becoming a working artist can be challenging. Fortunately for Glasgow, CCM ’23, the generosity of others is allowing him to pursue a music career.

58

Arts Admin alumna wins Governor's Award for Arts Community...

May 9, 2023

UC College-Conservatory of Music alumna Christina Littlejohn (MA Arts Administration, '99) won the 2023 Governor's Arts Award for Arts Community Development. The awards program recognizes individuals, organizations and businesses for their outstanding contributions to the arts in Arkansas.

59

Ian Axness named Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre and...

May 2, 2023

UC College-Conservatory of Music Interim Dean Jonathan Kregor has announced the addition of Ian Axness to the college’s roster of distinguished performing and media arts faculty members. A versatile conductor, collaborative pianist and teaching artist, Axness first joined CCM’s faculty as an adjunct and guest resident music director in 2022. His new appointment as Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre and Resident Music Director will begin on Aug. 15, 2023.

60

CCM shares 2023 alumni and distinguished service awards

April 24, 2023

UC's College-Conservatory of Music is proud to present alumni and distinguished service awards to outstanding members of our community at the end of each academic year. The 2023 awards are presented to five accomplished alumni and one dedicated patron in a private virtual event as well as during the CCM's Graduation Convocation Ceremony on Friday, April 28.

61

CCM alumna Teresa Perrotta wins Met Opera Laffont Competition

April 24, 2023

CCM proudly celebrates Teresa Perrotta (MM Vocal Performance, ’19 and AD Opera Performance, ’21) and Chuanyuan Liu (AD Opera Performance, ’23), who have advanced through the district and regional levels of the prestigious Metropolitan Opera Eric and Dominique Laffont Competition to reach the semifinal round, held on the Met stage in New York April 17.

62

CCM Philharmonia presents 'Mahler and the Eternal' on April 22

April 17, 2023

Join the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music Philharmonia as they celebrate the close of another fantastic season with Mahler and the Eternal at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 22. Tickets are on sale now through the CCM Box Office.

63

Alumna Anita Graef named Taft Museum Duncanson...

April 11, 2023

Cincinnati’s Taft Museum has named Anita Graef (MM Cello ’19) the 2023 Duncanson Artist-in-Residence. The residency is designed to center the work of black artists from a variety of disciplines, and includes performances and educational events around the Cincinnati area. Graef, who was a CSO/CCM Diversity Fellow, will perform April 16, 21 and 29 as part of her Duncanson Residency.

66

CCM alumna Dylan Mulvaney returns to stage in Rainbow Room debut

March 27, 2023

University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music Alumna Dylan Mulvaney (BFA Musical Theater, 2019) triumphantly returned to the stage on Monday, March 13 in her Rainbow Room debut. Starring in her original, one-night-only show Dylan Mulvaney’s Day 365 Live!, Mulvaney presented an 80-minure cabaret-style variety show celebration that has been lauded by industry giants such as PLAYBILL and Variety.

67

CCM alums lead new Off-Broadway musical 'Walking with Bubbles'

March 24, 2023

Walking with Bubbles, a one-woman musical opening March 31 at the AMT Theater in New York, is the culmination of years of work by talented artists. There’s something special about this production, though: it’s written, directed, designed by and starring UC College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) alumni and faculty!

68

Arts Admin alumna Kathy Wade wins Governor’s Award for the Arts...

February 10, 2023

The Ohio Arts Council selected UC College-Conservatory of Music alumna Kathy Wade (MM Arts Administration, '81) to receive a Governor’s Award for the Arts in Ohio. In recognition of their impactful and visionary leadership in Ohio’s creative sector and their sustained dedication to promoting artistic excellence, awardees will be honored during a ceremony on May 17, 2023. Each of the winners will receive an original work of art by painter Brian Robinson of Dover.

72

"30 Years of Stephen" brings Broadway to CCM on Sept. 23

Event: September 23, 2022 8:00 PM

UC’s College-Conservatory of Music is thrilled to present a spectacular evening of music and stories, featuring our incredible students and a sampling of CCM's most notable alumni. Join us for a front-row seat to the world premiere of 30 Years of Stephen: The Music of Stephen Flaherty on Friday, Sept. 23, 2022 in Corbett Auditorium.

73

CCM and Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra report Diversity...

August 2, 2022

The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO) and the UC College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) are proud to announce recent successes of their CSO/CCM Diversity Fellowship program. Established in 2015 and launched with a grant from The Mellon Foundation, the nationally-recognized program amplifies and supports extraordinary young string players from populations historically underrepresented in American orchestras through a specialized, two-year graduate degree-level education, professional development and mainstage performance opportunities with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Four CSO/CCM Diversity Fellows have obtained full-time positions with major American orchestras for the 2022-23 season; additional Diversity Fellows successes include careers in music education, social change and orchestral administration.

74

In Memoriam: CCM Assistant Dean Emeritus Paul Hillner

July 22, 2022

The University of Cincinnati is saddened to share news of the passing of CCM Assistant Dean Emeritus Paul Hillner. A pillar of the CCM community for more than 40 years, Hillner passed away on July 20, 2022, at the age of 70.

75

Playbill: CCM Musical Theatre alum wins Ashley Longshore...

June 28, 2022

UC College-Conservatory of Music Musical Theatre alumnus Blaine Alden Krauss is the inaugural recipient of YoungArts' The Ashley Longshore Excellence in the Arts Award. In honor of musical theatre artist Patrick B. Hale, the award aims to support to artists at all stages of their careers. Winners receive an unrestricted $25,000 award and mentorship opportunities.

76

CCM alum Avishay Shalom wins first prize at the Nikisch...

June 16, 2022

Conductor, arranger and CCM alumnus Avishay Shalom (MM Orchestral Conducting, ‘16) received first prize at the second edition of the Arthur Nikisch International Conducting Competition, which was held from June 6-11, 2022, in Bulgaria.

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