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
- Dates: June 1-24, 2026, 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).
- Dates: June 1-5, 2026
- Time: 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
- Theme: Mermaids & Pirates
- Ages: 3-6 years old
- Instructor: Lizzy Russell
- Tuition: $300
- Registration Requirements: All campers must be fully potty trained to participate in this program.
Ahoy, tiny dancers! Get ready to sail away on a magical adventure under the sea in our Mermaid & Pirate Storytime Camp! Each day, little campers will explore a treasure trove of activities, twirl like graceful mermaids, march like daring pirates, and get ready for a mini performance at the end of the week.
- Dates: June 8-12, 2026
- Time: 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
- Theme: Trolls in the Enchanted Forest
- Ages: 3-6 years old
- Instrutor: Lizzy Russell
- Tuition: $300
- Registration Experience: All campers must be fully potty trained to participate in this program.
Deep in the enchanted forest, where music fills the air and everything sparkles with joy, lives a world of colorful, fun-loving forest creatures who LOVE to dance! Each day brings a new adventure with forest-inspired crafts, story time magic, and dance to prepare for a mini performance at the end of the week!
- Dates: June 1-5, 2026
- 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-5 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 Camp 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. Enrichment
- 2-3 p.m. Arts and Crafts
- 3-4 p.m. Practice and/or Large Group Activities
- 4 p.m. Daily Camp Check-out
Teen Programs
- Dates: June 6-13, 2026
- Time:Varies
- Instructor: Tricia Sundbeck, Director. Thomas Bell, Johnnie-Lynn Jacobs-Percer, Isabele Elefson, Kiersten Edwards, Ana Bird, Shauna Steele
- Special Topic Guests: Kat Wolf, NKY Dancewear; Jacqui Hass, Dance Medicine
- Tuition: $600
- Experience: Levels 5-7
- Registration Requirements: Audition not required.
This Ballet Intensive offers comprehensive training for young women and men specializing in ballet technique, pointe, classical ballet repertoire, and modern dance in an intensive environment. Additional supplemental classes in contemporary dance, character 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
- Dates: June 1 – July 30, 2026, Monday-Thursday
- Time: 6:30-8 p.m.
- Instructor: Varies
- Tuition: $10 per class
- Experience: Levels 5-7
This technique class is offered four days per week on Monday through Thursday from 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. This level of student will continue fine tuning and enhancing their training in all areas of classical ballet. They will develop stronger musicality, phrasing, and performance qualities. This course is available to all students as a drop-in option.
- Dates: June 8-12, 2026
- Directors: Ralph DiSylvestro, Artistic Director, Kennedy Heights Arts Center; Eric Lechliter, Jazz Division Director, CCM Prep
- Tuition: $190
- Experience: At least one year of experience performing on an instrument. Eligible registrants should be entering grades 6-12 in Fall 2026.
- Previous Faculty: Angie Coyle, Isaiah Cook, Mason Daugherty, Jack Early, Marc Fields, Katie Frisco, Annie Gordon, Brad Klein, Miles Twitty, Terry Twitty, Brad Myers, Christian Paradiso, Jordan Pollard
The CPS/KHAC 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, KHAC, 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.
Cincinnati Public School (CPS) students will be enrolled in Jazz Academy at no cost as part of their enrollment in CPS schools. Students outside of the CPS district will be enrolled at $190 tuition. Princeton students will receive an emailed invoice discounted at 50% to be paid upon invoicing.
- Dates:
- 1-Week Sessions: Session 1: June 15-21, 2026; Session 2: July 6-12, 2026
- 2-Week Sessions: Session 1: June 15-27, 2026; Session 2: July 6-18, 2026
- Instructors: Bethany Kerr, Director
- Tuition:
- 1-Week Intensive: $1,000 for each session
- 2-Week Intensive: $1,800 for each session
- Age: Rising 9-12 graders
This program is designed for talented, motivated, and dedicated high school students, rising freshman through seniors, who have a strong interest in and passion for musical theatre. Voice, dance, and acting are taught by conservatory faculty, local professionals, and CCM Prep faculty.
Important Dates:
Auditions Open: October 1, 2025
Priority Deadline: February 1, 2026
Hard Deadline: March 1, 2026
For students who complete their application by February 1, admission decisions will be released on a rolling basis starting February 15. Applications may be viewed until March 1, if any spaces remain.
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 mid-February.
For more information on application waivers and tuition assistance, please email ccmprep@ucmail.uc.edu
Audition Requirements:
All students should prepare the following for their audition:
- Headshot
- One-page resume
- Monologue: An age-appropriate monologue from a published play written after 1950. This should not be from a movie, TV show, or musical. The monologue should be 60–90 seconds in length, including the slate (Please state your name, the title of the play, and the playwright).
- Two contrasting songs: Each selection should be under 90 seconds including the slate (Please state your name, the title of the song, and the musical it is from OR, for non-musical theatre selections, the name of the artist). Songs may be 32-bar cuts or shorter excerpts.
- One song from a musical written before 1970
- One song written after 1970 in any style (this may include non-musical theatre material)
- Please avoid a cappella submissions, they will not be accepted. You must use live or recorded accompaniment for your videos.
- Dance video: 30–60 seconds of a solo dance piece in any style you feel comfortable with. Please avoid submitting group performance footage.
- Recommendation form: One recommendation from a teacher or community professional who can best assess your potential as an actor, singer, and/or dancer, as well as your general attitude, personality, and work ethic. Recommenders will receive an email from Acceptd AFTER your application is submitted to complete the recommendation form.
- Please note that we cannot render an admissions decision until this recommendation has been received, so stay in close communication with your recommender to ensure timely submission.
Housing
Housing is available for an additional fee. Additional information will be available after January 1.
Adult Programs
- Dates: July 13-18, 2026
- Instructor: Dr. L. Brett Scott (Director)
- Tuition: $700 (after Early-Bird discount ends)
- Early-Bird Discount: $600 (Register by May 1st)
- Cincinnati Public School educators save 10% on summer workshops (Cannot be used in conjunction with the Early-Bird discount)
- 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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