College-Conservatory of Music to host inaugural alumni showcase ‘CCM Speaks’

University of Cincinnati alumni, friends and creatives in the Greater Cincinnati community are invited to UC’s College-Conservatory of Music on Friday, April 19, for an intimate evening of inspiring talks by CCM alumni. Called “CCM Speaks,” this new initiative will highlight innovative alumni projects that have sparked new learnings and broken new ground.

“CCM Speaks” will feature four 15-minute, first-person alumni stories followed by a panel discussion and Q&A session with the audience. In addition to the on-campus event in CCM’s Cohen Family Studio Theater, all four presentations will be recorded and shared over the summer on CCM’s YouTube channel.

The quartet of featured alumni were selected through an open call for proposals issued in early 2024. The alumni and their presentations include:

• Evan Gidley, MM ’18, on how participatory art united a city’s non-profit community and inspired hope.
• Timothy O’Neill, BM ’03, MM ’04, MS ’06, on how human expression and AI technology can create a renaissance for classical music.
• Brandon Saho, ’15 BFA on how a sports newscaster turned to podcasting to remove the stigma around mental health.
• Kathleen Shimeta, MM ’79, on how rediscovering the composer Gena Branscombe led to the founding of a non-profit to promote equity in music.

The event begins at 7 p.m., with a reception including light refreshments held in the Baur Room immediately following the program. The $10 cost includes complimentary parking in the CCM Garage.

Visit the UC Alumni Association’s website for complete program information including the opportunity to register. 

Featured image at top of CCM Village at night. Photo/UC Marketing + Brand.