The Composition program at CCM offers undergraduate and graduate degrees with a focus in providing students with the necessary training to successfully compose original music in acoustic or electro-acoustic mediums.
Core courses in the Composition major include private lessons, orchestration, counterpoint, introductory to advanced courses in electronic music, professional aspects of a composition career and changing special topics courses. The composition symposium is a forum for guest and departmental presentations.
In these courses and additional courses in other CCM departments, students in CCM’s Composition program study the various analytical and compositional procedures of music and gain knowledge of past musical styles as well as music of other cultures.
CCM's composition programs not only benefit composition majors, but also serve as a resource for all music students, enriching the already active musical atmosphere of the college. The prestigious Alexander Zemlinsky Prize for Composition also acts as a further resource for the conservatory, engaging international jury members and award recipients in the commissioning and performance of chamber and orchestral work at CCM.
The CCM Center for Computer Music contains studios/laboratories for computer music composition, research and performance equipped for exploring programming, interactive performance, virtual reality, internet performance and multimedia and multi-channel composition.
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CCM's admissions process begins on August 1 (undergraduate) and September 1 (graduate) for entrance in the following year's fall semester. All application materials must be submitted on or before December 1 to be considered for specific scholarship awards. Visit the CCM Admissions website for additional application instructions.
Applicants must submit the required pre-screening materials via getacceptd.com/ccm on or before December 3 in order to be considered for admissions and invited for an audition.
Interviewees will be asked to discuss their background and interests, and demonstrate their musical knowledge.
The purpose of the undergraduate degree program in composition is to provide a structured course of study that will lay a foundation for possible graduate work in this field. Career opportunities as a professional composer often require studies beyond the bachelor's degree. The Bachelor of Music in composition takes four years to complete and courses include instruction in the following areas, among other electives and university requirements:
From the outset, students at CCM study with major teachers of their choice and are encouraged to study with multiple teachers during the course of their degree. Extensive work is done in CCM’s computer music studios. Interaction with student performers under professors’ guidance is offered in workshop courses. Multidisciplinary courses are occasionally team-taught by composition faculty and faculty in other disciplines (dance, visual art, etc.).
The master's program is designed to provide a comprehensive course of study in the composition of music in both acoustic and electro acoustic mediums. A candidate is expected to compile a portfolio of compositions in the course of their studies in the master's program, culminating in a solo composition recital given towards the end of their degree program. To accomplish these goals, a candidate will need to develop the requisite skills associated with the technique of musical composition as well as familiarize themselves with the literature and aesthetic issues pertaining to the field. In addition, students in the master's program will undergo a course of study in graduate level theory and history needed in the formation of a well-rounded musician.
The DMA program is designed to provide a comprehensive course of study in the composition of music at the advanced level in both acoustic and electro acoustic mediums. A candidate is expected to compile a portfolio of compositions in the course of their studies in the DMA program, culminating in a solo composition recital given towards the end of their degree program. To accomplish these goals, a candidate will need to develop the requisite skills associated with the technique of musical composition, as well as familiarize themselves with the literature and aesthetic issues pertaining to the field.
Students enrolled in a doctoral program at CCM are expected to demonstrate intellectual breadth through the completion of a significant program of study in a secondary field (cognate).
The cognate in Music Composition cognate requires a minimum of 9 credit hours of courses offered within the Composition Department (i.e. with the “COMP” prefix in the course number).
The core course requirement for the cognate is Composition Elective (COMP6030, 1 to 2 course units), which the student should take for at least two consecutive semesters. This course enables the student to compose their own music under the guidance of weekly lessons with one of our Graduate Assistants in Composition.
Beyond that, the student may take any other course within the Composition program, provided the course is at the graduate level (i.e. 6000 course number or above). Available courses for which the student may register include the following:
Interested students first meet with a member of the Composition faculty to determine their interest and readiness to pursue a cognate in Composition. Once accepted, the student draws up a course plan in consultation with a member of the Composition faculty who acts as that student’s cognate advisor. After the student has completed their coursework in the cognate, they consult with their cognate advisor at least one semester before they take the DMA Orals Exam in their major to devise a focused course of study that will provide the basis for questioning during the cognate portion of the orals exam. The cognate advisor then questions the student on composition-related topics for 20 minutes during the cognate portion of the DMA Orals Exam. Once this requirement has been passed, the student has successfully completed the cognate.
The music history cognate will consist of three graduate-level MUHS topics courses or seminars (at least 9 semester hours at the 6000, 8000, or 9000 level). The student should consult with a musicology faculty member whose specialty is in an area of the student’s interest. If the faculty member agrees, they will become the student’s cognate advisor and will help the student draw up a suitable plan of study according to the following guidelines:
The cognate advisor will participate on the committee for the student's final oral examination.
The music theory cognate (12 credit hours) consists of three required courses (9 credit hours) and one graduate-level elective (3 credit hours). The cognate aims to provide students with a solid grounding in advanced tonal and post-tonal analysis, theory pedagogy and another practical/theoretical area depending on the student’s interest. Applicants will be interviewed by the cognate advisor (a member of the music theory faculty) to discuss their experience and interest in music theory. Approval will be granted to students with sufficient background and proficiency in analytical and/or theoretical studies in music at the bachelor’s and master’s levels.
Required Music Theory Cognate Courses (9 credit hours)
Cognate electives (3 credit hours)
Students may choose any one course from the following list of graduate-level courses:
Students enrolled in a doctoral program at CCM are expected to demonstrate intellectual breadth through the completion of a significant program of study in a secondary field (cognate).
Requirements (9-15 credits)*:
* The following courses may not be used for cognate credits:
The cognate advisor will participate on the committee for the student's final oral examination.
April 22, 2025
UC College-Conservatory of Music Composition Professor Mara Helmuth is appointed to the 100th class of Guggenheim Fellows, including 198 distinguished individuals working across 53 disciplines.
March 25, 2025
The UC College-Conservatory of Music congratulates Douglas Knehans, Professor of Composition, who was recently named the recipient of the 2025 Wachtmeister Award. Awarded every two years by the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts (VCCA), the prize includes a 30 day residency at Mt. San Angelo in the foothills of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, as well as a $1,000 honorarium and a travel stipend.
Event: April 5, 2025 10:00 AM
Do you have a favorite film music theme? Have you ever wondered how film scores come to life? Discover the art of film scoring during the one-day Film Scoring Summit at UC's College-Conservatory of Music (CCM). Led by Professor Jasmine Guo, the Film Scoring Summit is a free event for rising 10th-12th grade students. Participants will delve into the magic of music in film, experiment with scoring and learn about CCM's Commercial Music Production (CMP) program. The Summit ends with a tour of CCM's recording studios and a Q&A session with faculty.
January 24, 2025
A faculty team at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) has been awarded a National Endowment for the Humanities Landmarks in America History and Culture grant. The award of $190,000 will fund their project Cincinnati Sounds: Exploring a Musical City’s Spaces, Places, and Sounds.
Event: January 24, 2025 12:00 AM
UC College-Conservatory of Music hosts its Moveable Feast fundraising gala live and in-person on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025. Presented by CCMpower, a dedicated volunteer group of friends, advocates and alumni, Moveable Feast 2025: A Tempo generates essential support for the next generation of performing and media artists at CCM. Learn more about the event's "artistic menu" in our digital program!
December 17, 2024
UC College-Conservatory of Music congratulates CCM Distinguished Teaching Professor of Music Theory and Composition Miguel Roig-Francolí on his recent recognition from the American Prize.
November 27, 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 latest quarter zip and crewneck sweatshirt designs can be ordered online now through Dec. 8, 2024. You can preview both items below.
November 25, 2024
Watch the next alumni guest lecture presented as part of CCM Speaks, led by the UC Alumni Association. UC College-Conservatory of Music alum Kathleen Shimeta presents "Bringing Back Branscombe: A Woman Composer Lost – Now Found."
November 12, 2024
This year, four UC College-Conservatory of Music alumni and one current faculty member are among the nominees named for the 67th Annual Grammy Awards, which will be held in February of 2025. Represented across five categories, the Bearcats specifically named in the Grammy's published list of nominees include CCM Associate Professor of Voice Elliot Madore along with alumni Shoshana Bean (BFA Musical Theatre '99), Aaron Lazar (MFA Musical Theatre, ’00), Kevin McCollum (BFA Musical Theatre ’84, HonDoc ’05), Fotina Naumenko (MM Voice ‘12, DMA Voice ‘18), Jeannette Sorrell (MM Orchestral Conducting, att. ‘86-88) and Donald Nally (BM Music Education ‘82).
