Teen Programs
Dive deeply into the arts at CCM this summer. CCM Prep’s workshops offer unparalleled arts experiences to students interested in everything from musical theatre to jazz.
Students who love the performing arts will be surrounded by peers from throughout the nation who share their passion, excitement and dreams. Summer at CCM provides fun and intense workshops where students can learn from leading national artists and teachers, including CCM’s collegiate faculty members.
Workshop details are listed below. For more information, please contact CCM Prep at 513-556-2595 or ccmprep@uc.edu.
Summer 2026 Programs
- Dates: June 1 – July 30, 2026, Monday-Thursday
- Time: 6:30-8 p.m.
- Instructor: Varies
- Tuition: $10 per class
- Experience: Levels 5-7
This technique class is offered four days per week on Monday through Thursday from 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. This level of student will continue fine tuning and enhancing their training in all areas of classical ballet. They will develop stronger musicality, phrasing, and performance qualities. This course is available to all students as a drop-in option.
- Dates: June 6-13, 2026
- Time:Varies
- Instructor: Tricia Sundbeck, Director. Thomas Bell, Johnnie-Lynn Jacobs-Percer, Isabele Elefson, Kiersten Edwards, Ana Bird, Shauna Steele
- Special Topic Guests: Kat Wolf, NKY Dancewear; Jacqui Hass, Dance Medicine
- Tuition: $600
- Experience: Levels 5-7
- Registration Requirements: Audition not required.
This Ballet Intensive offers comprehensive training for young women and men specializing in ballet technique, pointe, classical ballet repertoire, and modern dance in an intensive environment. Additional supplemental classes in contemporary dance, character dance, musical theatre, pilates, injury prevention, and nutrition will be included, as well as seminars by guest teachers and speakers to expand the students’ knowledge on specific dance topics. Students aged 14 to 17 are eligible. The intensive is appropriate for intermediate through advanced dancers (levels 5-7).
Sample Schedule:
- 8:45-9 a.m. Daily check-in
- 9-9:30 a.m. Stretch
- 9:30-10:45 a.m. Technique
- 10:45-11 a.m. Break
- 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Pointe, Partnering, Variations, Choreo
- 12:15-1:30 p.m. Lunch
- 1:30-2:15 p.m. Pointe, Partnering, Variations, Choreo
- 2:15-3:30 p.m. Modern
- 3:30-3:45 p.m. Break
- 3:45-5 p.m. Masterclass/Special Topics
- 5-6:30 p.m. Dinner
- 6:30-8 p.m. Evening Activity
- Dates: June 8-12, 2026
- Directors: Ralph DiSylvestro, Artistic Director, Kennedy Heights Arts Center; Eric Lechliter, Jazz Division Director, CCM Prep
- Tuition: $190
- Experience: At least one year of experience performing on an instrument. Eligible registrants should be entering grades 6-12 in Fall 2026.
- Previous Faculty: Angie Coyle, Isaiah Cook, Mason Daugherty, Jack Early, Marc Fields, Katie Frisco, Annie Gordon, Brad Klein, Miles Twitty, Terry Twitty, Brad Myers, Christian Paradiso, Jordan Pollard
The CPS/KHAC Summer Jazz Academy offers an outstanding experience to study jazz performance with professional musicians and other students in a friendly and encouraging environment. Daily classes will include jazz ensembles, jazz history, jazz theory, jazz improvisation, as well as jazz arranging and college audition preparation for high school students. The faculty includes leading jazz performers and jazz educators from CCM, CPS, KHAC, and the Greater Cincinnati region. The week concludes with a performance by all student groups. No audition is necessary, but space is limited so get your registration in as soon as possible.
Cincinnati Public School (CPS) students will be enrolled in Jazz Academy at no cost as part of their enrollment in CPS schools. Students outside of the CPS district will be enrolled at $190 tuition. Princeton students will receive an emailed invoice discounted at 50% to be paid upon invoicing.
- Dates:
- 1-Week Sessions: Session 1: June 15-21, 2026; Session 2: July 6-12, 2026
- 2-Week Sessions: Session 1: June 15-27, 2026; Session 2: July 6-18, 2026
- Instructors: Bethany Kerr, Director
- Tuition:
- 1-Week Intensive: $1,000 for each session
- 2-Week Intensive: $1,800 for each session
- Age: Rising 9-12 graders
This program is designed for talented, motivated, and dedicated high school students, rising freshman through seniors, who have a strong interest in and passion for musical theatre. Voice, dance, and acting are taught by conservatory faculty, local professionals, and CCM Prep faculty.
Important Dates:
Auditions Open: October 1, 2025
Priority Deadline: February 1, 2026
Hard Deadline: March 1, 2026
For students who complete their application by February 1, admission decisions will be released on a rolling basis starting February 15. Applications may be viewed until March 1, if any spaces remain.
Audition:
To audition, visit Acceptd and select “CCM Prep: Musical Theatre Intensive” from the drop-down menu to start your application. There is a $35 fee for audition applications. Auditions will open in October, and results will begin to be announced to applicants in mid-February.
For more information on application waivers and tuition assistance, please email ccmprep@ucmail.uc.edu
Audition Requirements:
All students should prepare the following for their audition:
- Headshot
- One-page resume
- Monologue: An age-appropriate monologue from a published play written after 1950. This should not be from a movie, TV show, or musical. The monologue should be 60–90 seconds in length, including the slate (Please state your name, the title of the play, and the playwright).
- Two contrasting songs: Each selection should be under 90 seconds including the slate (Please state your name, the title of the song, and the musical it is from OR, for non-musical theatre selections, the name of the artist). Songs may be 32-bar cuts or shorter excerpts.
- One song from a musical written before 1970
- One song written after 1970 in any style (this may include non-musical theatre material)
- Please avoid a cappella submissions, they will not be accepted. You must use live or recorded accompaniment for your videos.
- Dance video: 30–60 seconds of a solo dance piece in any style you feel comfortable with. Please avoid submitting group performance footage.
- Recommendation form: One recommendation from a teacher or community professional who can best assess your potential as an actor, singer, and/or dancer, as well as your general attitude, personality, and work ethic. Recommenders will receive an email from Acceptd AFTER your application is submitted to complete the recommendation form.
- Please note that we cannot render an admissions decision until this recommendation has been received, so stay in close communication with your recommender to ensure timely submission.
Housing
Housing is available for an additional fee. Additional information will be available after January 1.
- Date: June 8–12, 2026
- Instructor(s): James Bunte & Carly Hood, Co-Directors
- Tuition: $550
Join some of the most talented high school saxophonists from around the United States for the CCM Saxophone Intensive! Saxophonists will gather for five days of intensive study, featuring daily repertoire and technique lessons, quartet coaching, performing in saxophone ensemble, attending and participating in masterclass lessons with renowned saxophone artist-teachers. The intensive also culminates with a performance.
Registration Requirements: Audition not required. Video submission is required for ensemble placement. Note: This video helps us place you in the ensemble that best matches your current skill level. It’s not an audition, and your participation in the program is not dependent on it.
Your video may be an ensemble work, solo, or any work/etude, band, orchestra, or chamber excerpt of your choice. We also ask that you include a major scale of your choice, and chromatic scale. Accompanied or unaccompanied pieces are accepted.
How to Submit Your Placement Video
- Record your placement video.
- Upload your video to a platform that gives you a shareable link, such as YouTube, Dropbox, or Google Drive. Make sure the sharing settings allow us to view it.
- Complete this brief questionnaire, where you’ll include your video link and a few details to help us with ensemble placement.
- Video Submission Deadline: Friday, June 5 at 5 P.M.
- Questions? Email Dr. Hood at hoodce@ucmail.uc.edu
Sample Daily Schedule
- 8:45-9 a.m. Daily check-in
- 9-9:30 a.m. Warmup
- 9:30-11 a.m. Repertoire and Technique
- 11–12:30 p.m. Quartet Rehearsal
- 12:30–1:30 p.m. Lunch
- 1:30–3 p.m. Special Topics
- 3–4 p.m. Personal Practice
- 4:15–5:15 p.m. Ensemble Rehearsal
- 5:15–6:30 p.m. Dinner
- 6:30 – 8 p.m. Evening activity
- Dates: July 24-August 1, 2026
- Director: Dr. Joyce Chan Grabell
- Tuition: $900
- Age: rising 9-12th graders
The CCM Prep Strings Intensive offers high school musicians who are rising Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors, an excellent chance to work closely with the professional musicians and educators from CCM’s faculty and the greater Cincinnati, Ohio area. During this one-week intensive, students will rehearse and perform in chamber music ensembles and string orchestra, participate in masterclasses with seasoned professionals, and utilize the resources of CCM. Classes will cover chamber music repertoire, orchestral literature, and music theory, and students will explore the multiple majors offered at CCM. The High School Strings Intensive concludes with a final performance by the student groups.
Important Dates:
- Auditions Open: October 1, 2025
- Priority Deadline: February 1, 2026
- Hard Deadline: March 15, 2026
For students who complete their application by February 1, admission decisions will be released on a rolling basis starting February 15. Applications may be viewed until March 15, if any spaces remain.
Audition:
To audition, visit Acceptd and select “CCM Prep: Musical Theatre Intensive” from the drop-down menu to start your application. There is a $35 fee for audition applications. Auditions will open in October, and results will begin to be announced to applicants in mid-February.
For more information on application waivers and tuition assistance, please email ccmsummer@mail.uc.edu.
Audition Requirements:
- Headshot
- Two contrasting pieces: Totaling a combined time of 8-10 minutes.
- example: Solo Bach and one standard movement of a concerto/sonata; piano accompaniment optional
- Recommendation Form: One recommendation from a teacher or community professional who can best assess your potential as an musician, as well as your general attitude, personality, and work ethic. Recommenders will receive an email from Acceptd AFTER your application is submitted to complete the recommendation form.
- Please note that we cannot render an admissions decision until this recommendation has been received, so stay in close communication with your recommender to ensure timely submission.
- Please note that we cannot render an admissions decision until this recommendation has been received, so stay in close communication with your recommender to ensure timely submission.
Registration
Registration is open now. Please follow the "learn more" links located with each program. For more information, please contact CCM Prep at 513-556-2595 or ccmprep@uc.edu.
Housing
Housing is available for an additional fee for a select number of High School Intensives. High School Intensive students are not required to live on campus.