CCM Prep, Benjamin Carlson-Berne Fund expand free lessons for young musicians

Cincinnati's Movers and Makers magazine recently featured CCM Prep and the Benjamin Carlson-Berne Scholarship Fund (BCB). A new partnership between CCM Prep and the BCB Fund will continue its mission to provide instrumental or vocal classical music lessons for underserved youth in the Cincinnati community and provide support to select Cincinnati Public School instrumental music programs. 

The Benjamin Carlson-Berne Scholarship Fund (BCB) was established in 2004 by Susan Carlson and Philip Berne, in memory of their son Ben, whose passion was to expose economically disadvantaged children and youth to classical music. Scholarships are awarded to students in middle or high school who have demonstrated a love for classical music and a desire to study music. 

“When kids invest in music, they grow in so many different ways," Susan Carlson told Movers and Makers. 

Now operating in partnership with CCM Prep, the purpose of the fund is twofold: provide instrumental or vocal classical music lessons for underserved youth in the Cincinnati community and provide support to select Cincinnati Public School instrumental music programs. An endowment fund has been created at the University of Cincinnati Foundation to support these efforts. Additional information, including funding eligibility, will be provided soon.

“One of our goals is to reach out to students in the community, rather than always expect them to come to campus," Anne Cushing-Reid, Assistant Dean and Director of CCM Prep, said to Movers and Makers. 

“Musicians, mostly CCM masters and doctoral students, will go to SPCA, Shroder and Withrow to give private lessons to scholarship recipients,” Cushing-Reid added. “My hope is that the Prep program can expand the scholarship offerings to even more Cincinnati Public Schools, do summer camps and connect scholarship recipients with other playing opportunities.”

Featured image at the top: CCM Prep students in rehearsal. Photo by Michael Kralik.