Clarinet

Female clarinet student performs with the wind ensembles on the Corbett Auditorium stage

CCM's competitive program offers unparalleled education in clarinet. Students have the pleasure of studying with the school's esteemed faculty of active and engaged professional performing artists.

As part of their degree requirements, all clarinet students have the unique opportunity to perform alongside their remarkable colleagues at CCM in the highest-caliber ensembles, including the school's two symphony orchestras: the CCM Philharmonia and Concert Orchestra; two wind ensembles: the CCM Wind Orchestra and Wind Ensemble; and two smaller chamber ensembles: the CCM Chamber Players and Chamber Winds.

CCM offers degrees in clarinet at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Learn More About the BM Program Learn More About the MM Program Learn More About the DMA Program Learn More About the AD Program

Clarinet Faculty

Headshot of Ronald G. Aufmann

Ronald G. Aufmann, 

Adjunct Assistant Professor of Clarinet; CCM Prep Master Teacher, Clarinet

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Headshot of Ixi Chen

Ixi Chen, 

Adjunct Assistant Professor of Clarinet

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Headshot of Joe Morris

Joe Morris, 

Adjunct Instructor of Clarinet

513-556-3442

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Headshot of Christopher Pell

Christopher Pell, 

Adjunct Instructor of Clarinet

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Headshot of Pavel Vinnitsky

Pavel Vinnitsky, 

Chair of Woodwinds, Brass and Percussion Department; Associate Professor of Clarinet

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Woodwinds, Brass and Percussion Department Chair

Headshot of Pavel Vinnitsky

Pavel Vinnitsky, 

Chair of Woodwinds, Brass and Percussion Department; Associate Professor of Clarinet

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Performance Studies Division Head and Staff

Headshot of James Bunte

James Bunte, 

Division Head of Performance Studies; Professor of Saxophone

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Headshot of Sarah Minneman

Sarah Minneman, 

Chamber Music Coordinator

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Headshot of Claudia C. Penn

Claudia C. Penn, 

Executive Staff Assistant

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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 8 to be considered for specific scholarship awards. Visit the CCM Admissions website for additional application instructions.

Clarinet - BM

Pre-screening

Applicants must submit the required pre-screening materials via getacceptd.com/ccm on or before December 10 in order to be considered for admissions and invited for an audition.

Pre-screening Requirements
  • Mozart Clarinet Concerto: First movement exposition (or similar movement from a major concerto or sonata)
  • Two contrasting etudes from C. Rose: 32 Etudes

Audition

Audition Requirements
  • Two contrasting etudes from C. Rose: 32 Etudes
  • Mozart Clarinet Concerto: First movement exposition (or similar movement from a major concerto or sonata)
  • Orchestral excerpts:
    • Mendelssohn: Scherzo from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, beginning to letter B

    • Beethoven: Symphony 6, First movement measures 474-492 and Second movement measures 68-77
  • Sight reading


Clarinet - MM

Pre-screening

Applicants must submit the required pre-screening materials via getacceptd.com/ccm on or before December 10 in order to be considered for admissions and invited for an audition.

Pre-screening Requirements
  • Mozart: Clarinet Concerto, first movement exposition (beginning-m. 154)
  • Stravinsky: Three Pieces, second movement only

Audition

Audition Requirements
  • Two solo pieces of your choice
  • Mozart: Clarinet Concerto, K. 622, first and second movements
  • Orchestral excerpts: 
    • Mendelssohn: Scherzo from A Midsummer Night's Dream, beginning to letter B
    • Beethoven: Symphony 6, First movement measures 474- 492 and Second movement measures 68-77
    • Beethoven: Symphony 8, Menuetto (Trio), measures 48-78
  • Sight reading

Clarinet - DMA, AD

Pre-screening

Applicants must submit the required pre-screening materials via getacceptd.com/ccm on or before December 10 in order to be considered for admissions and invited for an audition.

Pre-screening Requirements
  • Mozart: Clarinet Concerto, first movement exposition (beginning-m. 154)
  • Stravinsky: Three Pieces, second movement only

Audition

Audition Requirements
  • Mozart: Clarinet Concerto, K. 622 (entire piece)
  • 20th or 21st-century unaccompanied work for solo clarinet 
  • First three pages of the Copland Concerto (through the end of the Cadenza) 
 
  • Orchestral excerpts: 
 
    • Mendelssohn: Scherzo from A Midsummer Night's Dream, beginning to letter B
 
    • Beethoven: Symphony 8, Menuetto (Trio), measures 48-78
    • Kodály: Dances of Gálanta

      • Measures 31- 65
    • Ravel: Daphnis and Chloe Suite No. 2
      • Excerpt 1 . 2 measures after figure 155 through 3 measures after figure 157
      • Excerpt 2. 3 measures after figure 212 to end 
  • Sight reading

Located in the heart of Cincinnati, CCM is surrounded by ample professional art and music venues and productions. Home to the Cincinnati Symphony, the historic Music Hall is only minutes driving-distance from campus.

The artistic community of the greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky area employs many current and former CCM students as music teachers and performers in local schools, playhouses, orchestras and other arts organizations.

CCM's Talent For Hire program connects current students with a variety of local gig opportunities.

News and Events

1

Watch highlights from the CCM Wind Symphony's season-opening concert

January 14, 2026

Highlights from the CCM Wind Symphony's season-opening concert are now available to watch on demand. The Sept. 19 performance, titled "Tributes," featured music selections that were composed as tributes by Joel Puckett, James David, Michael Gandolfi and Jonathan Leshnoff.

2

New CCM apparel available for purchase online

January 12, 2026

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 2026 apparel can be ordered online now through Feb. 2, 2026. You can preview five wearable items below.

5

A Clarinet, a cause, and a calling

September 14, 2025

Abby Maher was in fifth grade when she fell in love with the clarinet. Years later, as a music education and clarinet performance major at CCM on track to graduate in 2028, and a recipient of a Hoffman Study Abroad Scholarship, she beheld the magic behind the clarinet’s velvety, captivating sound — and the gift of sharing it.

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