Arts & Culture

Discover a vibrant tapestry of artistic expression and cultural exploration in our Arts & Culture newsroom featuring stories that delve into performances, exhibitions, other arts events and insightful research. 

Featured News

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CCM hosts Conducting Master Class March 5-8, 2026

December 3, 2025

UC College-Conservatory of Music hosts the CCM Conducting Master Class on March 5-8, 2026. Open to emerging and established conductors, participants will have the opportunity to learn from CCM Director of Orchestral Studies Mark Gibson while working with the CCM Philharmonia.

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CCM Musical Theatre student is semifinalist in American Pops Orchestra NextGen Collegiate Vocal Competition

December 2, 2025

CCM Musical Theatre student, Nick Gundrum, has been chosen as a semifinalist for the American Pops Orchestra NextGen Collegiate Vocal Competition. The NextGen Competition was founded by APO Music Director, Maestro Luke Frazier, and is dedicated to celebrating collegiate students who show promise in popular song, musical theatre and jazz. The Next Gen Competition evaluates students based on vocal technique, stage presence and interpretive skill.

Latest News

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CCM hosts Conducting Master Class March 5-8, 2026

December 3, 2025

UC College-Conservatory of Music hosts the CCM Conducting Master Class on March 5-8, 2026. Open to emerging and established conductors, participants will have the opportunity to learn from CCM Director of Orchestral Studies Mark Gibson while working with the CCM Philharmonia.

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CCM Musical Theatre student is semifinalist in American Pops Orchestra NextGen Collegiate Vocal Competition

December 2, 2025

CCM Musical Theatre student, Nick Gundrum, has been chosen as a semifinalist for the American Pops Orchestra NextGen Collegiate Vocal Competition. The NextGen Competition was founded by APO Music Director, Maestro Luke Frazier, and is dedicated to celebrating collegiate students who show promise in popular song, musical theatre and jazz. The Next Gen Competition evaluates students based on vocal technique, stage presence and interpretive skill.

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CCM talent featured on several Grammy Award-nominated albums

December 1, 2025

Four UC College-Conservatory of Music alumni and an alumnus from CCM Prep's Starling String Project are among the nominees named in the 2026 Grammy Awards. Presented by the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, the 68th Annual Grammy Award ceremony takes place on Sunday, Feb. 1 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, broadcasting live on the CBS Television Network and streaming live and on demand on Paramount +.

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Tamron Hall Show features CCM Musical Theatre student

November 18, 2025

Last year, UC College-Conservatory of Music student Erin Morton went viral after giving a performance of Radiohead's "Creep" on campus. Since then, she landed the role of Martha Dunnstock in "Heathers the Musical" at New World Stages and was recently featured on the Tamron Hall Show.

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CCM actors build skills for the digital age

November 18, 2025

The BFA Acting program at UC's College-Conservatory of Music prepares students for careers in theatre and beyond in the evolving entertainment landscape. The Cincinnati Business Courier highlights the program's work in UC's Digital Performance Lab, showcasing how CCM's performance training embraces innovation in the digital era.

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TikTok co-op fosters creativity

November 18, 2025

UC Master of Design degree student Delfina Lassalle turned her required co-op into a dream internship with TikTok’s livestreaming marketing team in Los Angeles. There, she gained hands-on experience in creative direction, social media strategy and content production while discovering her confidence.

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Designing a fairy tale

November 14, 2025

Maura Kesterson spends her days, and most of her nights, sewing away in a space underneath Patricia Corbett Theater. “Pretty much anything you can do in the costume department, I’ve done,” Kesterson said. A lifelong seamstress and performer, Kesterson was crafty enough in her career choices to land her at the University of Cincinnati, designing all the colorful costumes for a grand opera, a retelling of the charming story of Cinderella. Kesterson is a master’s degree student studying costume design and technology at UC’s College-Conservatory of Music.

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International Horn Society’s peer-reviewed journal publishes article by CCM student

November 4, 2025

UC College-Conservatory of Music student Emily Riker is making her mark in the international horn community. Her recent article, “Access Denied: Instrumental Music Education Barriers” published in the International Horn Society’s peer-reviewed journal, The Horn Call, explores the barriers to music education and access to learning instruments.