A message from CCM's leadership

Dear CCM community,

I write to you today to join in UC President Pinto's call for action and to affirm CCM’s support for the Black community and all people of color. We stand in solidarity against racism and injustice. We are frustrated and heartbroken about the events from the last few weeks, from the senseless deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor to the protests across the country that have followed.

Diversity and inclusion are absolutely fundamental to our purpose as a public college and university. Our commitment to excellence and diversity is affirmed in our university’s very mission statement and we are proud of the leadership that President Pinto has provided to make UC an inclusive campus community. At CCM, we have spent the last two years strengthening our ties with a national network of highly diverse arts high schools to make ourselves more accessible to students of varying backgrounds. As a result, several of our programs will see their most diverse classes ever in 2020. We have similarly partnered with professional arts organizations like the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Cincinnati Opera to pursue diversity initiatives. We will continue to take every step necessary to reaffirm our commitment to diversity and a just community. We will continue our commitment to identify and eradicate inequity within our own institution and our community.

We know that this work is ongoing and we recognize that we must do more.

People who live and work in the performing and media arts are resilient. We create. We inspire. We innovate. And in challenging times, we persevere. Together, we can share art that builds bridges, heals hearts and inspires positive change. My pledge to you is that we will use the platforms available to us as performing and media artists to champion diverse talents, voices and perspectives.

We work to bring out the best in our students, faculty and staff by valuing their unique backgrounds, experiences and perspectives — welcoming individuals to collaborate, create, innovate and compete on the world stage. Ultimately, we aspire toward inclusive excellence by leading with courage and compassion, treating everyone with dignity and respect, and enhancing the quality of life for everyone with whom we connect.

We are hopeful that we all will come out of this with a stronger appreciation for each other and the importance of creating and maintaining an equal, just and inclusive society.  

Sincerely,

Stanley E. Romanstein, Ph.D.
Dean | Thomas James Kelly Professor of Music
University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music