UC News

In the News: CCM performs at New York's Carnegie Hall

Students claimed the spotlight for a one-night-only performance and fundraiser for the college

headshot of Rebecca Butts By Rebecca Butts 513-556-2675
9 minute read January 16, 2024

How do you get to Carnegie Hall?

Practice, practice, practice .... and a team of dedicated alumni, faculty, staff and donors who make it all possible. 

On Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024, more than 100 students and alumni took the stage at New York's Carnegie Hall to honor UC College-Conservatory of Music alumnus Stephen Flaherty and celebrate CCM's Broadway impact. Ticket proceeds and donations from the event support scholarships and initiatives at CCM — benefitting the next generation of performing and media artists at the college. 

Students and alumni perform on stage during the Stephen Flaherty performance at Carnegie Hall. Photo provided by Leeds Hill.

Students and alumni guest artists perform on stage at Carnegie Hall. Photo provided by Leeds Hill.

A Tony Award-winning composer of beloved musicals such as Anastasia, Ragtime and Seussical, Flaherty (BM Composition, ’82) was a scholarship recipient while attending school at CCM. "Patricia Corbett, who was an amazing supporter of the arts, gave me a scholarship that allowed me to go to the school," he told WCPO. "And without that scholarship, I wouldn't have had access. I wouldn't have been able to start, let alone finish." 

After the students and Broadway guests had their final bows on the iconic stage, CCM announced a new scholarship in Flaherty's name — the Stephen Flaherty Scholarship for Musical Theatre. 

"Stephen himself benefited from a scholarship, and without that support, the world may have been denied the incredible music that you heard Sunday night," said CCM Interim Dean Jonathan Kregor. "If the music of Ragtime, Anastasia, Once On This Island, and so many other Flaherty scores have been impactful to you, if CCM’s talented alumni have brought you joy, if our current students have inspired you — we ask that you consider making a donation in honor of Stephen Flaherty."

Support the Stephen Flaherty Scholarship for Musical Theatre
Gallery: Final rehearsal at CCM
Gallery: Student Photos from the trip
CCM students on stage at Carnegie Hall. Photo provided by Piper Vance.

CCM students on stage at Carnegie Hall. Photo provided by Piper Vance.

The New York performance was an incredible opportunity for current students to debut at Carnegie Hall. Many students have been preparing for the performance for more than a year (CCM first presented the Stephen Flaherty tribute event in September 2022 at Corbett Auditorium). 

More than 100 CCM musical theatre, dance, stage management, arts administration students and a student orchestra traveled to New York for the performance. Musical theatre and dance students performed on stage alongside Broadway stars — Christy Altomare (BFA Musical Theatre, ’08), Ashley Brown (BFA Musical Theatre, ’04), Jason Graae (BFA Musical Theatre, ’80), Aaron Lazar (MFA Musical Theatre, ’00), Bryonha Marie (Broadway guest artist), Geoff Packard (BFA Musical Theatre, '04), Stephanie Jae Park (BFA Musical Theatre, '14) and Alton Fitzgerald White (Musical Theatre, att. 1983-86).

"Getting to perform in Carnegie Hall was such a thrilling experience that I won’t ever forget. I’m so grateful to CCM for making this opportunity even possible," said Ava Shedd, a violin student. "It was such a fun weekend filled with great music and lifelong memories."

Learn more about the performance in the event announcement and in media coverage by CincyLifestyle, Local 12 WKRC, Cincinnati Business Courier, WCPO, Playbill, Broadway World, Sirius XM's "Seth Speaks" and the Woman Around Town blog. 

Explore student photos from the trip. Are you a student with photos from the trip? Share your story + photos here. 

Gallery: Final rehearsal at CCM
Gallery: Student Photos from the trip

The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music Honors Alumnus Stephen Flaherty

  • Conceived by Jim Semmelman*
  • Music Supervision, Direction, Arrangements and Additional Orchestrations by Jeffrey Saver* 
  • Featuring the Music and Lyrics of Stephen Flaherty* and Lynn Ahrens
  • Produced by Kevin McCollum*, Jim Semmelman*, Elaine M. Cox* 
  • Written, Curated, Interviews Conducted and with Parody Lyrics by by David Goldsmith* 
  • Directed and Choreographed by Marcia Milgrom Dodge 
  • Lighting Design by Aiden Bezark* 
  • Sound Design by Dan Gerhard 
  • Video Design by Tyler Milliron 
  • Puppet Design by Jamie Bressler* 
  • Production Stage Manager: Kali Ashurst** 
  • Artwork by Squigs
  • Keyboard 1/Rehearsal Pianist/MT Music Teacher: Julie Spangler
  • Keyboard Programming: NYC | Randy Cohen
  • Keyboard Programming: Cincinnati | Ian Axness*
  • Rehearsal Pianist: Casey Reed**
  • Marie Choreographer: Ginger Thatcher
  • Assistant Choreographer: Leeds Hill*
  • Assistant Stage Manager: Sarah Patisaul**, Katie Reus**, Anika Shirvaikar**
  • Production Manager: Katie Rues**
  • Music Assistant: Julie Danielson
  • Sound Assistant: Ellen Fitton
  • Director, Donor Relations and Signature Events: Allison Brucato

*Denotes CCM Alumni 
** Denotes CCM Student

The Glorious Ones Guest Ensemble

  • Christy Altomare*
  • Ashley Brown*
  • Liz Callaway*
  • Jason Graae*
  • Aaron Lazar*
  • Bryonha Marie
  • Geoff Packard*
  • Stephanie Jae Park*
  • Alton Fitzgerald White*

*Denotes CCM Alumni

CCM Dance Students

  • Regina Murphy, Class of '25
  • Maddie Weber, understudy, Class of '26

CCM Musical Theatre Students

  • Jordyn Jones, Class of '27
  • Edin Kebede, Class of '27
  • Carter Minor, Class of '27
  • Grace Capeless, Class of '26
  • Monique Churchill, Class of '26
  • Annika Jonker, Class of '26
  • Indya Lincicome, Class of '26
  • Erin Morton, Class of '26
  • Anargha Pal, Class of '26
  • Sam Yousuf, Class of '26
  • Lucy Acuna, Class of '25
  • Essence Bell, Class of '25
  • Ranease Brown, Class of '25
  • Kristen Das, Class of '25
  • Dan Klimko, Class of '25
  • JT Langlas, Class of '25
  • Sean Polk II, Class of '25
  • Spencer Stanley, Class of '25
  • Franco Valerga, Class of '25
  • Amanda Bishop, Class of '24
  • Jett Blackorby, Class of '24
  • Andrew Burke, Class of '24
  • Benjamin Cheng, Class of '24
  • Nate Jones, Class of '24
  • Eliza Levy, Class of '24
  • Kassandra McMillan, Class of '24
  • Madison Mosely, Class of '24
  • Peter Neureuther, Class of '24
  • Gracie Parker, Class of '24
  • Nicholas Pattarini, Class of '24
  • Annalise Prentiss, Class of '24
  • Stanislaw Przedlacki, Class of '24
  • Jackson Reagin, Class of '24
  • Grace Rusnica, Class of '24
  • Julia Schick, Class of '24
  • August Bagg, Class of '23

CCM Student Orchestra

VIOLIN I

  • Yasmine Bougacha, Concertmaster and soloist
  • Andrew Smeader, Associate Concertmaster
  • Emma Joyce
  • Ju-Young Lee
  • Nayoung Yang
  • Jason Colón
  • Ava Shedd
  • Riki Nagai

VIOLIN II

  • Gabrielle Sewell, Principal
  • Madeline C. Marshall
  • Rafael Roig-Francoli
  • Piper Vance
  • Kana Luzmoor
  • Beibei Liu
  • Zishang Gao

VIOLA

  • Lila Reeser, Principal
  • Isabella Prater
  • Murphy Combs
  • Sarah Nichols

CELLO

  • Jacqueline Pegis, Principal and soloist
  • Abigail Leidy
  • Hye-Jeong Oh
  • Amani Zouehid

BASS

  • Lydia Young, Principal
  • Riley Foos
  • Eric Reigelsperger
  • Abby Singer-Miller

FLUTE

  • Valentina Arango, Principal
  • Lauren Jett
  • Caitlyn Lyerly

OBOE

  • Julia Bobell, Principal
  • Anna Lower

CLARINET

  • Citlalmina Hernandez-Toro
  • Marian Mayen
  • Tyler Song, Principal

BASSOON

  • Bryan Benson, Principal
  • Jonathan Headen

SAXOPHONE

  • Colin Palmieri (Alto & Soprano), Principal
  • Dabin Jung (Tenor)
  • Seuk Jun Yang (Tenor)
  • Andrew Strawn (Baritone)

HORN

  • Charlie Klukow
  • Sarah Zhukenova, Principal

TRUMPET

  • Annaleigh Babcock, Principal
  • Joe Keller
  • Weifeng Zhao

TROMBONE

  • Dalton Hurst, Principal
  • Madison Smith

BASS TROMBONE

  • Sean Reynolds

TUBA

  • Christopher Messinger

HARP

  • EJ Busby

PERCUSSION

  • Marie Conti
  • San-Lou Wei - Timpani
  • Jun Zheng

RHYTHM

  • Piano: Julie Spangler
  • Keyboard II: Max Kreeger
  • Acoustic and Electric Bass: Jason Muesel
  • Guitar 1: Tristen Krueger (guitar and mandolin)
  • Guitar 2: Keith Humphrey (guitar and banjo)
  • Drums: Jett Stevens
  • Librarian: Citlalmina Hernandez-Toro
  • Rehearsal Pianist: Casey Reed
  • Equipment Manager: Abby Singer-Miller
  • Orchestra Graduate Assistant: Stephen Hardie

A most special thanks to the generous supporters of this project. CCM is forever grateful for your dedication to our college, students and mission.

  • Bacchus Legacy Foundation
  • Kevin McCollum
  • Alchemation
  • Ms. Cheryl L. Carter and Mr. Edward R. Donovan
  • J. Brett Offenberger, MD and Mr. Douglass E. Duckett
  • Mr. and Mrs. Robert S. Chavez
  • Patti Myers and Alan Flaherty
  • Rabbi Kenneth and Dr. Toni Kanter
  • Dean Clevenger and Freeman Durham
  • Mr. and Mrs. Brian A. Burress
  • Martin and Betsy Schwartz Fund
  • Kenton Shaw Interior Design
  • Jeff Thomas Catering
  • Gregory J. Mathein
  • Sarah Mizelle Miller
  • Tom Kirdahy and the Terrence McNally Foundation
  • Laura Wexler Glass, MD
  • L. Timothy Giglio
  • Marc Platt
  • Daryl Roth
  • Jennifer Manocherian
  • Shannon and Lee Carter
  • Susan and Tom Hughes
  • The University of Cincinnati Foundation
  • University of Cincinnati
  • UC President Neville Pinto
  • UC Provost Valerio Ferme
  • UC College of Co-operative Education and Professional Studies
  • UC Office of Student Affairs

A note of gratitute to the CCM faculty who traveled with students to New York:

  • Rebecca Bromels
  • Kevin Michael Holzman
  • Shauna Steele
  • Vincent DeGeorge
  • Sarah Folsom
  • Diane Lala

The Show Goes On

The curtain has closed for CCM's Carnegie Hall performance and students have returned to Cincinnati — but you can still be part of the momentum of this event! Help ensure that the next generation of students—the next Stephen Flaherty, even—has the resources they need to change the world.

Donate by visiting foundation.uc.edu/CCMCarnegieHall.

For additional ways to support CCM, please contact Elaine M. Cox, Senior Director of Development, at 513-556-2528, or email elaine.cox@foundation.uc.edu.

Additional Contacts

Curt Whitacre | Director of Marketing/Communications | UC College-Conservatory of Music

| 513-556-2683

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