Get to know CCM’s newest faculty/staff members and unit heads
CCM welcomes new faculty and staff, along with current faculty to new leadership roles, for 2024-25
UC’s College-Conservatory of Music will welcome a variety of new faculty and staff members to its roster of distinguished performing and media arts experts, researchers and educators this fall.
The following new appointments have been announced as of July 16, 2024. We will announce additional appointments throughout the summer.
New Dean
CCM will welcome new dean Peter Jutras, PhD, on Aug.1, 2024.
New Full-Time Faculty
The newest full-time members of CCM’s faculty will begin their appointments on Aug. 15, 2024. Those faculty members are:
Lynn Worcester Jones,
Associate Professor of Piano Pedagogy; Coordinator of Group Piano
513-556-9525
Drew Thomas,
Assistant Professor of Film and Television Production
513-556-9488
New Staff
The following staff also recently joined CCM:
New Leadership Roles
The following current CCM faculty members have recently assumed new roles:
Division Head
Andrew Villemez,
Interim Division Head of Keyboard Studies (effective Aug. 1, 2024); Associate Professor-Educator
Department Chairs
Rachel Calin,
Chair of String Department; Professor of Double Bass
513-556-1118
Amy S. Johnson,
J. Ralph Corbett Distinguished Chair of Opera; Associate Professor of Voice (Soprano)
267-980-3961
Pavel Vinnitsky,
Chair of Woodwinds, Brass and Percussion; Associate Professor of Clarinet
513-556-9540
Learn more about CCM's divisional and departmental leadership here.
About CCM’s Faculty
At CCM, tomorrow’s arts luminaries work with today’s industry leaders. Our internationally recognized faculty members work with students from around the world. CCM students receive personalized mentorship from professors who guide their individual scholarly, creative, musical, performing and teaching growth.
Who are our faculty members? CCM professors are Grammy, Emmy and Tony Award-winning performers and designers, ASCAP and BMI Award-winning songwriters and composers, as well as Fulbright Scholars. They are members of major American orchestras, as well as directors and conductors for the world’s leading opera houses and summer festivals. They are researchers, educators, choreographers, technicians, filmmakers and playwrights, as well as experts on health and wellness for artists. They have published widely-used textbooks and produced multimedia for US presidents. They have been featured on major broadcasts like Good Morning America, the Today Show and the Tonight Show, to mention just a few of their accomplishments.
Next Lives Here
At the University of Cincinnati, we realize the impact our teaching, research, artistry and service can have on our community and the world. So, we don’t wait for change to happen. We break boundaries, boldly imagine and create what’s Next. To us, today’s possibilities spark tomorrow’s reality. That’s why we are leading urban public universities into a new era of innovation and impact, and that's how we are defining Next for the performing and media arts.
We're about engaging people and ideas - and transforming the world.
We are UC. Welcome to what's Next.
Featured image at top: A May 2024 photograph of CCM's Memorial Hall. Photo/Curt Whitacre
Additional Contacts
Rebecca Butts | Assistant Public Information Officer
buttsrl@ucmail.uc.edu | 513-556-2675
Related Stories
UC study examines impact of incarceration on youth health
July 19, 2024
Samantha Boch, PhD, at the UC College onf Nursing, has studied the impact of incarceration on child and family health for more than a decade. Her latest research examines youth health in Cincinnati and relies on collaboration with Cincinnati Children's Hospital.
Camp aims to empower children, teens who stutter
July 17, 2024
A one-week, evidence-based program for children and teens who stutter at the University of Cincinnati will teach kids to communicate effectively, advocate for themselves and develop confidence about their communication abilities. Camp Dream. Speak. Live., which is coming to Cincinnati for the first time July 22-26, began in 2014 at the University of Texas at Austin. The Arthur M. Blank Center for Stuttering Education and Research at UT expects to serve more than 2,000 children at camps across the United States, Africa, Asia and Europe this year.
UC archivist explores Troy’s invisible workers
July 17, 2024
UC Classics archivist Jeff Kramer examined the unheralded and largely uncredited role laborers played in the 1930s excavation at Troy in Turkey.
From intern to full-time: Recent Lighting Design grad joins Bandit Lites
July 16, 2024
Lighting & Sound America spotlights recent graduate Riley Rowan's new position at Bandit Lites, a full-service design, management and producer of live events and entertainment.
CCM alum Donald Lawrence to be inducted into Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame
July 16, 2024
UC College-Conservatory of Music alumnus Donald Lawrence is part of the 2024 class of Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame inductees. Located at the Banks in downtown Cincinnati, the induction ceremony on July 27 will feature a parade of stars and a free concert by the Zapp Band.
U.S. stroke survival is improving, but race still plays role
July 16, 2024
U.S. News & World Report, HealthDay and Real Health covered new research from the University of Cincinnati that found overall rates of long-term survival following stroke are improving, but Black individuals experience worse long-term outcomes compared to white individuals.
Collaborative pianist and vocal coach Kirill Kuzmin joins CCM’s faculty
July 16, 2024
UC College-Conservatory of Music Interim Dean Jonathan Kregor has announced the addition of Kirill Kuzmin to the college’s faculty of distinguished performing and media arts experts, researchers and educators. A Grammy-nominated collaborative pianist and vocal coach, Kuzmin begins his new role as Associate Professor of Opera/Vocal Coaching on Aug. 15, 2024.
My incredible first year at Cincinnati Law: Journey, reflections and highlights
July 16, 2024
Dean Haider Ala Hamoudi gives a progress report on his first year as dean of the College of Law.
Presidential challenge to UC: Join Ride Cincinnati to fight cancer
July 16, 2024
UC President Neville Pinto has again challenged every UC college and unit to send at least one rider to the September 14 Ride Cincinnati event to help fundraise for cancer research and cancer care. UC students ride free. Signup by July 31 for free UC-branded cycling jersey.
Pediatric ICU rates linked to housing quality, income, education
July 16, 2024
Healio highlighted research led by the University of Cincinnati and Cincinnati Children's Hospital's Carlie Myers that found a link between pediatric ICU admission rates and housing quality, household income and education.