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 2025 Programs
- Dates: June 9-13, 2025
- Time:9 a.m.–8 p.m.
- Instructor: Tricia Sundbeck, Director
- Tuition: $600
- Experience: Levels 5-7
- Registration Requirements: Audition not required.
The Ballet Intensive offers a comprehensive training program for young women and men specializing in ballet technique, pointe, classical ballet repertoire, and modern dance in an intensive environment, Monday through Friday. Additional supplemental classes in contemporary 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 2 – July 24, 2025, Monday-Thursday
- Time: 6:30-8 p.m.
- Instructor: Tricia Sundbeck, Director
- Tuition: $10 per class
- Experience: Levels 5-7
This technique class is offered four days per week on Monday – Thursday from 6:30p.m. – 8 p.m. This level of student will continue fine tuning and enhancing their training in all the areas of classical ballet. They will develop stronger musicality, phrasing, and performance qualities. Classes are drop-in only throughout the summer (levels 5-7).
- Dates: June 9-13, 2025
- Directors: Dr. Isidore Rudnick, Fine Arts Curriculum Manager, Cincinnati Public Schools & Eric Lechliter, Youth Jazz Orchestra Director, CCM Prep
- Tuition: $180 for non-CPS students
- Experience: At least one year of experience performing on an instrument. Eligible registrants should be entering grades 5 through 12 in Fall 2025.
The CCM/CPS 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 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.
- Dates: July 7-12, 2025
- Instructor(s): Eric Lechliter & Brad Myers, Co-Directors
- Tuition: $650
- Experience: Rising 10th-12th graders, Auditions are required.
The CCM Prep Jazz Intensive offers high school jazz musicians who are rising Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors, an excellent chance to work closely with the professional jazz musicians and educators from CCM’s Jazz Studies faculty and the greater Cincinnati Ohio area. This is a unique opportunity to dig deep, get a glimpse of college life, and see what it is like to study jazz performance at the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music. During this one week intensive, students will rehearse and perform in small jazz ensembles, participate in masterclasses with seasoned pros, engage in active jazz listening sessions, and take classes covering special topics like jazz history, jazz theory & harmony, jazz improvisation, and jazz arranging. Optional opportunities for private instruction, student/faculty jam sessions, Cincinnati area live jazz performances, and college audition preparation will be available. The High School Jazz Intensive concludes with a final performance by the student groups and the CCM Faculty Jazztet.
Audition Requirements
To assist with group placement, each student will complete a student information/registration form via Get Accept’d and submit a video recording of them performing the following from the provided lead sheets/backing tracks:
To assist with group placement, each student will complete a student information/registration form via Acceptd and submit a video recording of them performing the following from the provided lead sheets/backing tracks:
- 12 bar blues in F or Bb (ex. Now’s the Time, Blue Monk, Tenor Madness, etc.):
- Everyone should play the melody 1x and improvise a solo in a swing jazz style
- Pianists & Guitarists should also demonstrate one chorus of “comping”
- Bassists should also demonstrate one chorus of “walking bass”
- Drummers should also demonstrate a swing beat with knowledge of the melody
- One additional Standard Jazz tune of the student's choice from the list below:
- Blue Bossa, Recorda-me, So Danço Samba, St. Thomas (Straight 1/8th)
- Take the A Train, Doxy, Well You Needn’t, Impressions (Standard/Modal)
- Pent-Up House, Solar, Scrapple from the Apple, Anthropology (Bebop/Adv.)
- Have your recommendation form completed by a teacher or community professional who can best rate your abilities for this program
- Recommenders can complete the recommendation process online through Acceptd
- Priority Deadline: April 15, 2025
- Hard Deadline: May 1, 2025
Housing
Housing is available for an additional fee for a select number of Intensives. Additional information will be available after January 1.
Daily Schedule
- 8:45-9 a.m. Daily check-in
- 9:05-9:30 a.m. Personal warm-ups
- 9:35–10:45 a.m. Combos
- 10:50–11:30 a.m. Special Topics
- 11:30–12:10 p.m. Improv
- 12:15–1:30 p.m. Lunch
- 1:35–2:15 p.m. Jam Session
- 2:20–3:30 p.m. Masterclass
- 3:35–5 p.m. Combos
- 5:15–6:30 p.m. Dinner
- 6:30 – 8 p.m. Class varies
- Dates:
- 1-Week Sessions: Session 1: (June 16-22, 2025), Session 2: (July 14-20, 2025)
- 2-Week Sessions: Session 1: (June 16-28, 2025); Session 2: (July 7-19, 2025)
- Instructors: Bethany Kerr / Dee Anne Bryll
- Tuition:
- 1-Week Intensive: $1,000 for each session
- 2-Week Intensive: $1,800 for each session
- Age: Rising 10-12 graders
This program is designed for talented, motivated and dedicated high school students, rising sophomores through seniors, who have a strong interest in an passion for musical theatre. Voice, dance, and acting are taught by conservatory faculty, local professionals, and CCM Preparatory faculty. Auditions are required.
Important Dates:
Auditions Open: October 1, 2025
Priority Deadline: March 15, 2025
Hard Deadline: April 1, 2025
Applications may be viewed until April 1, if any spaces remain. Please keep in mind this is a very competitive program and the sooner the audition materials are received, the better. For your best chance, please submit your application by March 15, 2025.
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 March.
For more information on application waivers and tuition assistance, please email ccmprep@mail.uc.edu
Audition Requirements:
All students should prepare the following for their audition:
- Headshot
- One-page resume
- 100–150-word essay answering the question, "What do you hope to gain from this experience?" (Word document format is strongly preferred for online auditions)
- An age-appropriate monologue from a published play, not to exceed one minute.
- Two contrasting songs (32-bar cuts or under one minute long)
- one from a Golden Age Musical (before 1970)
- one contemporary song (after 1970)
- Have your recommendation form completed by a teacher or community professional who can best rate your abilities for this program
- Recommenders can complete the recommendation process online through Acceptd.
Housing
Housing is available for an additional fee. Additional information will be available after January 1.
Sample Weekday Schedule:
- 8:45-9 a.m. Daily check-in
- 9-9:45 a.m. Morning Warmup
- 9:45-11 a.m. Class 1 (Acting/Dance)
- 11-12:15 p.m. Class 2 (Acting/Dance)
- 12:15-1:30 p.m. Lunch
- 1:30-2:15 p.m. Special Topics Immersion Class
- 2:15-3:45 p.m. Class 3 (Acting/Dance)
- 3:45-5:15 p.m. Class 4 (Acting/Dance)
- 3:45-5 p.m. Masterclass/Special Topics
- 5:15-6:30 p.m. Dinner
- 6:30-8 p.m. Class 5 (Varies)
Sample Weekend Schedule:
- 10:30-11 a.m. Class 1 (Acting) or Showcase Rehearsal
- 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Lunch
- 1-2:30 p.m. Class 2 (Acting) or Showcase Rehearsal
- 2:30-4 p.m. Class 3 (Acting) or Showcase Rehearsal
- 4-5:15 p.m. Break
- 5:15-6:30 p.m. Dinner
- Date: June 23–27, 2025
- 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 four days of intensive study, featuring daily repertoire and technique lessons, quartet coaching, performing in saxophone ensemble, and attending and participating in master class lessons with renowned saxophone artist-teachers. The intensive also culminates with a performance.
Audition Requirements:
- Headshot
- Scales: Prepare the major keys up to four flats and four sharps (both tongued and slurred). Also, prepare the chromatic scale (ascending and descending) over the entire range you are comfortable on your instrument.
- Solo Piece (or excerpt from a piece) of your choice: This solo should be representative of your overall musical and technical ability. Solos and excerpts should be no more than 2 minutes in length. No piano or recorded accompaniment permitted.
- Have your recommendation form completed by your band director or a private lesson instructor who can best rate your abilities for this program
- Recommenders can complete the recommendation process online through Acceptd.
- Priority Deadline: March 15, 2025
- Hard Deadline: April 1, 2025
Daily Schedule
- 8:45-9 a.m. Daily check-in
- 9-9:30 a.m. Group warmups
- 9:30-11 a.m. Repertoire and Technique Lessons
- 11–12:30 p.m. Saxophone Quartet Rehearsal
- 12:30–1:30 p.m. Lunch
- 1:30–3 p.m. Masterclass
- 3–4 p.m. Personal Practice
- 4:15–5:15 p.m. Saxophone Ensemble Rehearsal
- 5:15–6:30 p.m. Dinner
- 6:30 – 8 p.m. Class varies
- Dates: June 20-28, 2025
- 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.
Sample Daily Schedule
- 8:45-9 a.m. Daily check-in
- 9-10 a.m. String Orchestra
- 10–12 p.m. Quartet Rehearsal / Technique
- 12:15–1:30 p.m. Lunch
- 1:30–2 p.m. Enrichment
- 2–4 p.m. Quartet rehearsal / Technique
- 4–5 p.m. Rehearsal
- 5:15–6:30 p.m. Dinner
- 6:30 – 8 p.m. Evening Activities
Audition Requirements:
- Headshot
- Submit a video of 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
- Have your recommendation form completed by a teacher or community professional who can best rate your abilities for this program
- Recommenders can complete the recommendation process online through Acceptd.
- Dates: June 23-27, 2025
- Director: Jen Lampson
- Tuition: $650
- Age: rising 9-12th graders
The Technical Theatre Production camp is open to all rising 9th-12th grade students who are passionate about theatre production. It offers a hands-on experience in the world of backstage production, where students can explore the creative process behind props, puppetry, and scenic painting, and learn essential skills to bring a stage production to life. The camp also features masterclasses led by professionals in sound and audio design, costume and makeup artistry, stage management, and more, providing a well-rounded understanding of theatre production.
Sample Daily Schedule
- 9–11 a.m. Class 1 (Props/Paints/Costumes)
- 11 a.m.–12:15 p.m. Class 2 (Props/Paints/Costumes)
- 12:15–1:30 p.m. Lunch
- 1:30–3 p.m. Class 3 (Props/Paints/Costumes)
- 3–5 p.m. Guest Masterclass
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.