Sound Design

Sound Design student sits backstage monitoring multiple glowing computer monitors

CCM Sound Design’s BFA and MFA programs are guided by a hands-on philosophy and an immersive approach to industry-standard practices and technology.

The CCM Sound Design program includes study of a broad array of areas within the performing arts. Although sound design depends in many ways on the supporting technology, the focus of the program is on the artistic use of this technology. The work is not about the toys but about telling the story. Beginning with training in the fundamentals of sound technology and theatrical production, students advance to study the art of sound design through courses in script analysis, theatrical design, theatre history, art, music, system design and – of course – sound design itself including the designer's process and collaboration with the director and the design/production team.

The curriculum includes study of sound perception, digital audio, sound effects and music editing and reinforcement techniques. Students with a background in music and composition are encouraged to create original scores when appropriate.

The program features numerous production assignments in both drama and musical theater which may include sound operator, assistant designer, assistant mix engineer, wireless crew, mix engineer and designer. CCM offers a diverse season of shows including large-scale musicals with live orchestras, operas and dramas staged in several world-class spaces in the Corbett Center for the Performing Arts:

  • Corbett Auditorium (capacity: 663)
  • Patricia Corbett Theater (capacity: 378)
  • Cohen Family Studio Theater (capacity: ~120, but is flexible depending upon show)

Faculty

Headshot of Emily C. Porter

Emily C. Porter

Assistant Professor of Audio Technology

513-556-7482

Headshot of Matthew Daniel Tibbs

Matthew Daniel Tibbs

Chair of Theatre Design and Production; Assistant Professor of Sound Design

513-556-9597


Theatre Arts, Production and Arts Administration Division Head and Staff

Headshot of Rebecca Bromels

Rebecca Bromels

Division Head of Theatre Arts, Production and Arts Administration (TAPAA); Chair and Associate Professor of Arts Administration

513-556-5803

Headshot of Jen Lampson

Jen Lampson

TAPAA Production Manager

513-556-9439

Headshot of Deborah Neiheisel-DeZarn

Deborah Neiheisel-DeZarn

TAPAA Program Manager

513-556-5803

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.

Theatre Design and Production - BFA

Pre-screening

Applicants must submit the required pre-screening materials via getacceptd.com/ccm on or before December 3 in order to be considered for admission and invited for an audition.

Pre-screening Requirements
  • Current resume
  • 500-word applicant statement
    • Use the 500-word statement to express: how you came to your area of theater design and production, what you expect to gain out of the CCM experience, and what direction you intend to go upon graduation. What are your personal and professional goals and how does CCM get you closer to those goals?
  • Upload contact information for three references
  • Portfolio (include theatre, artistic, and/or craft work)
  • Theatre Design and Production questionnaire

Interview

Interview Requirements
  • Application materials, along with experiences, achievements and long-range goals will be discussed at the applicant’s interview. All applicants will interview with faculty from the Theatre Design and Production department.

Additional Information

  • Candidates should only apply to one major within Theatre Design and Production unless you are seriously considering two areas.

Theatre Design and Production - MFA

Pre-screening

Applicants must submit the required pre-screening materials via getacceptd.com/ccm on or before May 3 in order to be invited for an interview and considered for admissions..

If you’ve participated in U/RTA you must submit the required materials (listed below) to Acceptd in order to be considered for admissions into CCM. 

Pre-screening Requirements
  • Current resume
  • 500-word applicant statement
    • Use the 500-word statement to express: how you came to your area of theater design and production, what you expect to gain out of the CCM experience, and what direction you intend to go upon graduation. What are your personal and professional goals and how does CCM get you closer to those goals?
  • Portfolio (include theatre, artistic, and/or craft work)

Interview

Interview Requirements
  • MFA Interviews should be coordinated and scheduled directly through the appropriate faculty. Visit the Theatre Design and Production website for the faculty directory.
  • Application materials, along with experiences, achievements and long-range goals will be discussed at the applicant’s interview. All applicants will interview with faculty from the Theatre Design and Production department.

The Theatre Design and Production (TD&P) Sound Design Project Studio is a well- equipped multi-purpose laboratory and production space. It functions as a classroom for TD&P Sound courses as well as a fully functional multimedia post-production studio. The main studio computer is a Mac Mini with a 2.6Ghz Quad Core i7 processor, running ProTools 10 and 11, Native Instruments KOMPLETE 9, Apple Logic Pro 9 and QLab 3 Pro Audio. Monitoring is by Genelec, and the mixer is a Yamaha 01v96.

For surround sound monitoring, there are JBL speakers for the rears and a Tannoy Subwoofer, as well as a center speaker.

The studio also has an iMac that runs OmniGraffle, Vectorworks, AutoCAD, Adobe CS 5.5, QLab 3 Pro Audio, ProTools 10 and 11 and EASE acoustic modeling software. There is a color 11" x 17" printer available for production and class work, and access to a full- sized plotter in the lighting shop.

The studio is also well stocked with sound effects collections from Sound Ideas, Hollywood Edge and other production companies as well as microphones for a variety of recording projects.

  • Microphones
    • A full range of wired and wireless microphones by DPA, Beyerdynamic, AKG Acoustics, Crown, ElectroVoice, Sennheiser, Shure, Audio Technica, Sterling and Unidyne.
  • Playback Equipment and Computers
    • Mac Mini with SSD drive and iMac running QLab Pro Audio v3 software. Mac Mini running Yamaha Studio Manager, Meyer Compass software, d&b R1 and R10 software. Wired and Wireless networks to control all equipment.
    • Apple MacBook Pro running QLab 3 Pro Audio, ProTools 10 and 11, Native Instruments KOMPLETE 9.
    • Apple MacBook running SMAART v7 and Yamaha Studio Manager.
    • Audio interfaces by MOTU, Echo Audio, Focusrite, ART and Presonus.
  • Mixing Consoles and Processors
    • Yamaha PM5D, LS9 and DM1000 with various expansion cards. A variety of analog consoles from Soundcraft, Crest and Mackie. Meyer Galileo 616 Processor.
  • Amplifiers
    • Power amplifiers from BGW, Crest, Crown and Mackie.
  • Loudspeakers
    • A full range of large and small loudspeakers and subwoofers (and the appropriate processors/controllers) by Meyer Sound, Advent, Apogee, EAW, ElectroVoice, Hotspot, JBL, Optimus, Ramsa, TOA, Voyager and Yamaha.
  • Miscellaneous
    • Headphones, video cameras and monitors, microphone stands, keyboards, audio snakes, intercom equipment and other miscellaneous equipment by AKG, Clear-Com, ETA, Furman, Kurzweil, Mark of the Unicorn, Panasonic, Proco, Roland, Sony, TOA and other manufacturers.

News and Events

1

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.

2

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.

3

WATCH: CCM Opera Series presents 'The Cunning Little Vixen'

Event: February 29, 2024 8:00 PM

UC College-Conservatory of Music presents Leos Janáček’s beloved anthropomorphic opera "The Cunning Little Vixen" Feb. 29-March 2 in Corbett Auditorium. Sung in the original Czech, the opera follows a clever fox (or “vixen”), and the Forester, a human who captured her as a cub. Weaving between the human and animal world, the opera blends comedy and tragedy, exploring the cyclical nature of life and death.

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