Arts for All: Spend your summer at CCM

• 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 22-26, 2026
• Time: 9 a.m.– 3 p.m.
• Director: Amanda Marasch-Brinkman
• Tuition: $500
• Experience: For ages 9-12; audition not required

This fun, fast-paced camp is designed for students who are curious about musical theatre but don’t have a lot of experience – yet! Throughout the week, we'll dig into scenes, songs, choreography, and character work – with a mix of vocal warm-ups, memorization tips, improv games, and more. It’s a supportive space to build skills, try new things, and gain confidence onstage – no prior experience required.  

Sample Schedule:

• 8:45-9 a.m. Daily Check-in
• 9-9:30 a.m. Informal Auditions and Warmups
• 9:30-10:30 a.m. Music and Blocking
• 10:30-10:45 a.m. Snack break
• 10:45-11:30 a.m. Table Read and Discussion
• 11:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Lunch
• 12-12:30 p.m. Dance, Crafts or Costumes
• 12:30-1:30 p.m. Dance Review
• 1:30-3 p.m. Blocking, Choreography or Music

• Dates: July 6-10, 2026
• Time: 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
• Theme: Beauty and the Beast 
• Ages: 6-8 years old
• Instructor: Lizzy Russell
• Tuition: $300
• Experience: For ages 6-8

Step into a tale as old as time in this enchanting week of dance, imagination, and storytelling! Set in a world of enchanted castles and magical friendships, each day offers a new opportunity to explore whimsical crafts, a love of dance, and creative adventures that celebrate courage, kindness, and fun.  

• Dates: July 6-10, 2026
• Time:12:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
• Instructor: Amanda Marasch-Brinkman
• Tuition: $300
• Experience: For ages 6-8

This half day Musical Theatre Camp for 6–8-year-olds will feature all elements of musical theater including singing, acting, and dancing. Students are sure to have a blast as we highlight the joy of what it takes to put on a musical! This summer camp is paired with our Storytime Ballet, which is offered in the morning from 9-12pm, for a full day of FUN!

• 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 

• 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.

• Date: June 8–12, 2026 
• Instructor(s): James Bunte & Carly Hood, Co-Directors 
• Tuition: $550

Join some of the most talented high school saxophonists from around the United States for the CCM Saxophone Intensive! Saxophonists will gather for five days of intensive study, featuring daily repertoire and technique lessons, quartet coaching, performing in saxophone ensemble, attending and participating in masterclass lessons with renowned saxophone artist-teachers. The intensive also culminates with a performance. 

Registration Requirements: Audition not required. Video submission is required for ensemble placement. Note: This video helps us place you in the ensemble that best matches your current skill level. It’s not an audition, and your participation in the program is not dependent on it.  

Your video may be an ensemble work, solo, or any work/etude, band, orchestra, or chamber excerpt of your choice. We also ask that you include a major scale of your choice, and chromatic scale. Accompanied or unaccompanied pieces are accepted.  

How to Submit Your Placement Video

1. Record your placement video. 
2. Upload your video to a platform that gives you a shareable link, such as YouTube, Dropbox, or Google Drive. Make sure the sharing settings allow us to view it. 
3. Complete this brief questionnaire, where you’ll include your video link and a few details to help us with ensemble placement.

• Video Submission Deadline: Friday, June 5 at 5 P.M. 
• Questions? Email Dr. Hood at hoodce@ucmail.uc.edu

Sample Daily Schedule

• 8:45-9 a.m. Daily check-in
• 9-9:30 a.m. Warmup
• 9:30-11 a.m. Repertoire and Technique 
• 11–12:30 p.m. Quartet Rehearsal
• 12:30–1:30 p.m. Lunch
• 1:30–3 p.m. Special Topics
• 3–4 p.m. Personal Practice
• 4:15–5:15 p.m. Ensemble Rehearsal
• 5:15–6:30 p.m. Dinner
• 6:30 – 8 p.m. Evening activity

• 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.