CCM Announces 2006-07 Faculty Appointments and New Full-Time Employees

FACULTY

Timothy Anderson
Visiting Assistant Professor of Trombone
BM, University of South Carolina; MM, New England Conservatory; AD, University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music

Timothy Anderson has more than a decade of college-level teaching experience, with adjunct positions at both the University of Dayton and Cedarville University (Ohio). He is the principal trombone in the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra and a former principal trombone with the Richmond Symphony Orchestra. Anderson has additional concert performance experience with the Cleveland Opera Orchestra, Cleveland Ballet Orchestra and West Virginia Symphony and has performed with chamber music ensembles throughout the Ohio region. Anderson has been a featured soloist with the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra and he has recorded with Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, ProMusica Chamber Orchestra, Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, Columbus Symphony Orchestra and ProMusica Brass Trio.
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Nicholas Muni
Field Service Assistant Professor of Opera
BM, Oberlin College Conservatory of Music

An internationally renowned stage director, Muni's career spans over 25 years and includes projects at opera houses throughout the United States, Canada and Europe. His appointment at CCM follows his tenure as Artistic Director of Cincinnati Opera (1996-2004), during which time that company experienced considerable growth, including a doubling of the company budget, expansion of the repertoire, and the relaunch of the company's Young Artist Program. Muni has earned significant media and industry recognition for his unique vision and adventurous work, including the 2003 Dora Award (Canada) for best opera production of the year (Jenufa for Canadian Opera Company) and the 2003 Post-Corbett Award (Cincinnati) for Artist of the Year. This year at CCM, Muni will direct the March Studio Opera (a double bill featuring Une education manque and Le pauvre matelot) and CCM's Spring Mainstage Opera, Werther, by Jules Massenet.
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Brian Ruggaber
Assistant Professor of Scenic Design
BFA, Virginia Commonwealth University; MFA, University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

CCM welcomes Brian Ruggaber to the scenic design department of its Opera, Musical Theater, Drama and Arts Administration division. Ruggaber spent seven years teaching at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and his scenic design for UNC Charlotte's Crimes of the Heart was recognized by the Metrolina Theatre Association as Outstanding Set Design by an academic institution in 2004-05. His designs for Wiley and the Hairy Man (Children's Theatre Charlotte) and Blithe Spirit (Theatre Charlotte) received nominations for Outstanding Set Design 2002-03 by the Metrolina Theatre Association. Ruggaber is a member of United Scenic Artists, United States Institute of Theatre Technology and Metrolina Theatre Association.
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Jakyung Seo
Assistant Professor of Lighting Design
MFA, University of Illinois

Jakyung joins CCM after teaching lighting, sound design and various computer programs at California State University-Fresno, University of Toledo and Kyung Sung University in Korea.  She has worked as a professional lighting designer and assistant lighting designer in regional theaters, including Steppenwolf Theatre and Congo Square in Chicago, New World Theater at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and Lodestone Theatre Ensemble in Los Angeles. Her numerous professional design credits in South Korea and Japan include productions such as Medusacus, The Can, Spring My Hometown and What We Want, which was awarded best prize at The International Dance Festival in Saitama Japan. Jakyung will supervise lighting for CCM's 2006-07 Studio Series.
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Regina Truhart
Assistant Professor of Costume Technology
BM and BA, California State University, Sacramento; MFA, University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music

A graduate of CCM, Regina Truhart returns to her alma mater after teaching costume technology at the University of Florida and the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee. She is a recipient of the United States Institute of Technical Theater Award of Distinction, and a first-place winner in the National Opera Association video competition. Her credits include work with Washington National Opera, Seaside Musical Theater (Daytona Beach, FL), Utah Shakespearean Festival and Opera Theatre and Music Festival of Lucca (Italy). In Cincinnati, Truhart has worked with the Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, Cincinnati Ballet, Cincinnati Opera Outreach and CCM.
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Ray Wheeler
Assistant Professor of Music Education 
BME, MM Choral Conducting, University of Oklahoma; PhD, University of North Texas 

Ray Wheeler comes to CCM from Arkansas, where he taught public school choral music at various levels and served on the faculty at Arkansas Tech University as Director of Choral Activities and Coordinator of the Vocal Music Education Program. His former teachers include Dennis Shrock, Jerry McCoy, Henry Gibbons and Warren Henry. Wheeler's articles and book and choral reviews have been published in Choral Journal. At the University of North Texas he served on the College of Music Dean's Council as Graduate Student Representative and was named UNT's Outstanding Graduate Music Education Student of 2006.
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STAFF

Eric Cimini
Technical Theater Specialist, Resident Master Electrician
BFA, Theatrical Lighting Design, University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music

Eric Cimini's most recent position was at the the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he served as the Theater/Lighting specialist for the school's 4,300 seat Eisenhower Hall. While working at West Point, he managed all lighting and technical issues for touring productions such as David Copperfield and the Beach Boys, as well as cadet and military functions. Cimini also held the position of Lightning Designer for KC and the Sunshine Band's 2005-06 international tour. He has served as Technical Director at Interlochen Arts Camp, supervising the technical aspects of more than 75 touring productions including such artists as Josh Groban, Aretha Franklin, Jewel, Bobby McFerrin and Lou Rawls.
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Richard Palmer
Theater Stage Technician, Shop Foreman
BFA, Northern Illinois University

Richard Palmer joins CCM after working at Connecticut's Hartford Stage Company and Des Moines Metro Opera. He is a member or the North American Federation of Flying Effects Directors.
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For more information or to arrange an interview with any of CCM's new or current faculty, please contact Katie Rankin at 513-556-9484. Complete faculty bios and additional information are also available on CCM's Web site at www.ccm.uc.edu.