CCM Commercial Music Production Student Releases Second Album

CCM freshman Bryard Huggins recently released his second album, ‘Visual.’

CCM introduced a new bachelor of music degree in Commercial Music Production (CMP) last fall and that program is already producing young stars!

At the age of 18, first year CMP major Bryard Huggins has recently released his second album, entitled Visual. Originally from Nashville, Tennessee, Huggins released his debut album, entitled Artistic Touch, in October 2011. That effort featured music he began writing at the age of 11.

Released in August, Visual is now available on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, Raditaz, eMusic, Soundcloud and Tower. The album is described as a blend of smooth jazz with world music vibes and features four original songs, along with Huggins’ arrangement of the popular jazz standard “Water to Drink (Aqua de Beber).” The album was recorded at Studio One in Jacksonville, Florida. Two of the songs were done completely live featuring a bassist and drummer. Huggins was heavily involved in the production process along with other talented musicians and producers.

CCM Alumnus Travis Hagenbuch Nominated For Fourth Primetime Emmy

CCM Alumnus Travis Hagenbuch with the first two Emmys he won.

CCM alumnus Travis Hagenbuch (BFA, 2007) was nominated for his fourth primetime Emmy award this year (ceremonies were held on Sept. 22).

Nominated in the category of “Lighting Design,” Hagenbuch has designed lighting for such live televised events as the Olympics, President Obama’s inaugural celebration, a Super Bowl halftime show with Tom Petty, the Academy Awards, the Grammy Awards, the Tony Awards, the Academy of Country Music Awards, BET Awards, as well as TV specials for Lionel Richie, Betty White’s 90th birthday and Celine Dion.

The three Emmys has won to date are for the Vancouver Olympics’ opening ceremony in 2010 and for two Grammy ceremonies in 2011 and 2012.

You can learn more about Travis Hagenbuch courtesy of UC Magazine.

CCM Chair of Drama Richard E. Hess Receives Fulbright Scholar Award

Drama professor Richard Hess (right) led a contingent of students to Kenya in 2011 where they met refugees such as Abdi Rashid, a writer (left), who translated Hess’ words to Somali.

Richard E. Hess, the A.B., Dolly, Ralph and Julia Cohen Chair of Drama at CCM, has been awarded a Fulbright Scholar grant to teach and research at Kenyatta University in Nairobi, Kenya during the 2013-­14 academic year, the United States Department of State and the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board announced recently.

Hess’ research project, The Collapsible Space Between Us: Creating Artistic Identity through Theatre-­Making in Kenya, will allow him to work with actors as an acting teacher, on original devised theatre as a director and in educating theatre-­makers: actors who are story­tellers with strong identities interested in creating exciting physical theatre.

Hess is one of approximately 1,100 U.S. faculty and professionals who will travel abroad through the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program in 2013-­14.

Hess first traveled to Nairobi in June of 2011 to create an original theatre piece with refugees from the Dadaab Refugee Camp and CCM Drama students. The Dadaab Theatre Project performed at World Refugee Day with support from the United Nations and the Great Globe Foundation.

“In Kenya I met a group of multi-cultural, international, multi-language strangers who used the currency of theatre to open hearts, share identities, and give voice to the unspoken,” Hess explains. “I encountered heroic bravery and tangible hope, and was surprised by the intense trust and humbling respect given to me so easily. The Africans made me feel valued as a teacher in a way I have never felt. I am eager to return.”

CCM Musical Theatre Alumnus Nominated For Astaire Award

Left to right: CCM Musical Theatre Alumni Garett Hawe and Ryan Breslin at a Newsies rehearsal.

Musical Theatre alumnus Ryan Breslin is a nominee for the 30th Annual Fred & Adele Astaire Award, which honors excellence in dance on Broadway and film. Breslin is nominated as Outstanding Male Dancer in a Broadway Musical for his work in the Disney production of Newsies. Congratulations!

Watch Breslin discuss his role in Newsies below:

The 2012 Astaire Awards will be held on June 4 at NYU’s Skirball Center for the Performing Arts. Watch footage of Breslin from CCM’s 2011 production of RENT after the jump!

CCM’s Undergraduate Voice Students Shine in ‘Serse’

One of Handel’s most performed operas comes to life at the hands of talented undergraduate students when CCM presents the annual Opera d’arte production on March 30 and 31 in the Cohen Family Studio Theater. Admission is free but reservations are required.

The CCM Undergraduate Opera program’s 2010 and 2011 productions were both recognized by the National Opera Association‘s Annual Production Competition. The 2012 production of Serse is conducted by Brett Scott with stage direction by Kenneth Shaw.

CCM Alumna Performs On Annual Kennedy Center Honors Program

Anna Christy, soprano.

Congratulations to CCM alumna Anna Christy, soprano (MM Voice, ’00), who performed at the 34th Annual Kennedy Center Honors program last week.

The Honors Gala will be broadcast on the CBS Network for the 34th consecutive year as a two-hour prime-time special on Tuesday, December 27 at 9:00 p.m. (ET/PT).

UC Campus Community: CCM and UC Athletics Events on Dec. 3, May Impact Traffic & Parking

This Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011, the University of Cincinnati will be hosting multiple events on campus. If you will be coming to campus on Saturday, please plan for the increased traffic.

UC Campus Community: Admissions, Sports and CCM Events on Campus Nov. 19 May Impact Traffic & Parking

This Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011, the University of Cincinnati will be hosting multiple events on campus in addition to our own 2 and 8 p.m. performances of Oklahoma!:

• Admissions November Open House begins between 8-9 a.m.
• The UC Men’s Basketball team will host Presbyterian at 4 p.m.
• The Regional Football Finals for Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) will be played at Nippert Stadium between Moeller and St. Xavier at 8 p.m.

Due to the number of events occurring, a flat rate fee of $10 for visitor parking on campus will be in place after 12:30 p.m. For a map of garages, please visit www.uc.edu/parking.

UCAT and UC permit holders will continue to have access to their designated parking areas.

If you have any questions, please contact Parking Services at 513-556-2283 or email them at parking@uc.edu.

CCM Celebrates UC Homecoming With Free Concerts

CCM’s Concert Orchestra, Chamber Players and Faculty Jazztet will present special concerts bookending the University of Cincinnati’s 2011 Homecoming weekend later on this month. The concerts are free and open to the public, and UC fans and alumni are invited to come to campus and experience CCM’s world-class student and faculty artists in action.

UC Hosts Performing and Visual Arts College Fair on Oct. 11

The University of Cincinnati welcomes the National Association for College Admission Counseling’s (NACAC) Cincinnati Performing and Visual Arts College Fair on Tuesday, October 11, 2011. The fair runs from 7 – 9 p.m. in the Great Hall at Tangeman University Center. The event is free and open to the public.