Spend your summer at CCM: Explore youth, teen and adult programs

CCM Summer Programs provide music, dance and theatre arts workshops for students of all abilities

The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music provides high-caliber summer performing arts classes and workshops that are open to students of all experience levels. Explore CCM's youth, teen and adult summer programs below!

CCM Summer Programs offer arts enthusiasts the chance to work with the college's world-class faculty and renowned guest artists at CCM's state-of-the-art facilities. Programs include experiences in ballet, musical theatre, jazz, guitar, strings, winds and choral conducting! 

Browse program offerings and find the perfect performing arts opportunity for you or for your family! More information is included in the descriptions below.

Contact CCM Summer Programs at 513-556-5609 or ccmsummer@uc.edu if you have questions.

Youth Programs

Prep Youth Ballet
  • Dates: June 2-25, 2025, Mondays & Wednesdays
  • Time: 4:30-6 p.m.
  • Director: Tricia Sundbeck
  • Tuition: $275
  • Experience: Levels 3 - 4

Offered two days a week on Monday and Wednesdays, this class approaches more complicated ballet combinations for barre and center work. It continues the importance of proper ballet technique, alignment, body placement, body awareness, musicality and phrasing, as well as continued emphases on performance quality. Increased flexibility, endurance and body strength are also stressed to allow for the development of higher elevations and leg extensions (levels 3-4).

Prep Youth Ballet
  • Dates: June 2-6, 2025 
  • Time: 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  • Theme: Frozen
  • Instructor: Lizzy Russell
  • Tuition: $300
  • Registration Requirements: Students must be fully toilet trained to participate in this program.  

Dance camp immerses young dancers ages 3-6 in movement and imagination as they dance their way through beloved stories and develop an appreciation for music and dance. We will join Elsa and her friends for a magical adventure. Each day we will dance, create a craft, and get ready for a mini performance at the end of the week!

Prep Youth Ballet
  • Dates: June 9-13, 2025
  • Time: 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  • Theme: Brave
  • Instrutor: Lizzy Russell
  • Tuition: $300
  • Registration Experience: Students must be fully toilet trained to participate in this program. 

Dance camp immerses young dancers ages 3-6 in movement and imagination as they dance their way through beloved stories and develop an appreciation for music and dance. We will join Merida and her friends for a fearless forest adventure. Each day we will dance, create a craft, and get ready for a mini performance at the end of the week!

Prep children performing on violin
  • Dates: June 2-6, 2025 
  • Time:9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
  • Director: Dr. Joyce Chan Grabell 
  • Tuition: $350

Practice your instrument, gain new friends, and have fun learning pieces while improving your technique! CCM Prep faculty are planning a full week of classes, chamber music and orchestra rehearsals, mini-lessons, enrichment, games, and fun activities for Suzuki and Traditional string students. Students in grades K-8 are welcome to sign-up and will be placed in age-appropriate groups. Previous playing experience is required.

Sample Daily Schedule

  • 8:45-9 a.m. Daily Check-in
  • 9-10 a.m. Orchestra Rehearsal
  • 10-11a.m. Mini Lessons
  • 11-12 p.m. Chamber Music Rehearsal
  • 12-1 p.m.  Lunch and Free Time
  • 1-2 p.m. Exploration of the Arts with Guest Artists: Theater, Costume Design, Media Production
  • 2-3 p.m. Arts and Crafts   
  • 3-4 p.m. Practice and/or Large Group Activities

Teen Programs

Ballet students in rehearsal in a dance studio
  • 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
Ballet students in rehearsal in a dance studio
  • 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).

CCM Jazz students perform
  • 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.  

Students perform on stage during CCM Prep's High School Musical Theatre Workshop
  • 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, 2024

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

Adult Programs

Students perform on stage during CCM Prep's High School Musical Theatre Workshop

Choral Conducting Workshop:

  • Dates: July 6–12, 2025
  • Instructor: Joe Miller, Director
  • Tuition: $700 (early bird $600) 
  • Early Bird Discount: Register by May 1st 
  • Hard Deadline for Registration: June 15th 
  • No audition requirement

Offering exceptional training in choral pedagogy, literature, and performance, the CCM Choral Conducting Workshop is open to all musicians. The workshop will be a week-long immersion in new pedagogies and literature with participants receiving daily training in conducting, voice and choral pedagogy, performance practice, and a wide range of historic and modern repertoire. Featuring CCM’s outstanding choral and voice faculty, the week will include a performance on the final day. Participants will also be able to intersect with the International Conducting Training Program.


Contact CCM Summer Programs at 513-556-5609 or ccmsummer@uc.edu if you have questions.

CPS Strong

Our city is only as strong as our public school system. CPS Strong is working to establish an institution-wide model to engage and empower Cincinnati Public School students. By aligning programs and services to ensure readiness, create access and foster success, we can achieve educational transformation and positively impact the future of our university and our city. Learn more about CPS Strong.

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