Backstage Magazine names CCM a top college vocal program

Earlier this month, Backstage Magazine released its list of “12 College Vocal Programs You Should Know,” which included UC’s College-Conservatory of Music alongside the likes of the Juilliard School, the Berklee College of Music, New England Conservatory and other top performing arts institutions.

Programs were selected based on four criteria: skill-building curriculum, performance opportunities, post-college prep and notable alumni.

CCM was recognized for its “holistic approach to the profession,” its ample performance opportunities, its strong ties to area arts organizations and its robust series of guest artist presentations. Backstage also cited the successes of CCM-trained singers such as John Holiday, Daniel Okulitch and Tamara Wilson. Earlier this week, Holiday wowed judges and audiences alike during his televised audition for NBC's "The Voice."

Read the full Backstage story.

Since 1960, Backstage has been one of the most trusted resources for actors and performers looking to get to the next level. The magazine enjoys a weekly print readership of 110,000 and Backstage.com reports nearly 3 million visitors per month. Performers come to Backstage in all stages of their careers, not only to get cast, but to achieve their goal of working, advancing and mastering their craft as performing artists.

Declared “one of the continent’s major music schools,” by the Toronto Star, CCM’s Departments of Opera and Voice provide one of the most comprehensive training programs for opera singers, coaches and directors in the United States. CCM offers an international faculty of dedicated educators who are also celebrated professionals in their own right, widely and currently active in their respective fields.

CCM sends its students out into the profession. Several national opera companies now hold auditions at the conservatory, and the Opera Department also hosts a series of informational talks by nationally renowned artists' managers, opera company managers, artistic directors, program directors, performers and coaches, all of whom are prominent professionals working both in America and in Europe.

CCM students frequently advance to the final rounds of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, which is widely considered to be the nation’s most prestigious vocal competition. In 2019, soprano Elena Villalón (BM Voice, ’19) was named a Grand Finals Winner at the competition while she was still finishing her undergraduate degree at CCM. CCM’s other recent Grand Finals Winners include Jessica Faselt (MM Voice, ’16) in 2018, Amanda Woodbury (MM Voice, ’12) and Yi Li (AD Opera, ’13) in 2014 and Thomas Richards (MM Voice, ’13) in 2013. At least two CCM singers advanced to the Upper Midwest Regional Auditions in this year’s Met National Council Auditions: artist diploma students Amber Monroe and Teresa Perrotta.

CCM singers also recently won awards in other prestigious national competitions. Jessica Faselt won a $10,000 award and Alisa Jordheim (DMA Voice, '15; MM Voice,' 10) won a $1,000 Encouragement award at the 2020 George London Foundation Awards Competition for young American and Canadian opera singers. Jasmine Habersham (AD Opera, 2015; MM Voice, 2013) won the silver medal in the 2020 American Traditions Vocal Competition. Edward Nelson (BM Voice, 2011; MM Voice, 2013) won first prize at the 2020 Glyndebourne Opera Cup. Perrotta also advanced to the finals of the 2020 Lotte Lenya Competition.

In addition, CCM Opera productions have received some of the National Opera Association Production Competition’s highest honors throughout the years, taking home six of the 18 non-professional prizes awarded in 2010 and four prizes in 2011.

CCM Opera graduates have performed on the stages of the world’s greatest opera companies, including Cincinnati Opera, Metropolitan Opera (New York), Lyric Opera of Chicago, San Francisco Opera, Royal Opera (London), La Scala (Italy) and more.

Featured image at top: The Dieterle Vocal Arts Center, which is part of the CCM Village on UC's campus. Photo/UC Creative + Brand.