CCM Prep Announces Scholarship Fundraiser

CCM Prep is proud to announce a faculty recital and scholarship fundraiser featuring some of the area’s finest teachers and musicians. The recital will be held at 7 p.m. on Friday, October 14, 2011 at the home of Paul and Kathy Alexander.

CCM Preparatory Department Expands to UC Blue Ash Campus

The Preparatory Department of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM Prep) will begin offering arts opportunities for the community at UC Blue Ash College on October 8, 2011. Dance classes for children are already offered at the nearby Mayerson Jewish Community Center.

Starling Chamber Orchestra’s Josh Halpern Takes Top Honors at MTNA Senior String Competition

Congratulations to Josh Halpern, who won top honors at the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Senior String Competition.

Halpern, 17, is a junior at Oakwood High School. He is principal cellist of the Starling Chamber Orchestra, part of CCM’s pre-college program for advanced strings students. At Starling, Halpern is also a member of The Polaris String Quartet, which performed in Salzburg, Austria last month and will compete in the prestigious Fischoff Chamber Music Competition in South Bend, Indiana this month.

CCM Preparatory Department Pilots New String Program

The CCM Preparatory Department is teaching families at Mt. Washington Elementary School how to play the violin. This initiative is a partnership between CCM Prep, Mt. Washington Elementary School and CECH PASS (University of Cincinnati College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services/Partner for Achieving School Success).

The Mt. Washington/University of Cincinnati 21st Century Community Learning Center after school program called “Castle Connections” provides opportunities for Cincinnati Public School students to experience a wealth of enrichment activities as well as academic extensions in an after school setting. UC PASS was selected to be the lead agency for Mt. Washington because of the varied resources within the university. Rayma Waters, UC PASS Co-Director states, “We are very fortunate to have CCM Prep partner with Castle Connections, the quality of instruction is unsurpassed and providing the instruments enables family participation. With less and less art and music being offered through the schools, this program is providing a valuable resource!”

CCM Prep Announces May Events

The CCM Preparatory Department has a variety of exciting events planned for this spring and summer. Mark your calendars now for fall semester, which begins September 10. Pre-registration will begin soon. Additionally, summer camps are filling quickly in ballet, orchestra, jazz, piano, guitar and theatre arts. Check out the Summer Happenings, 2011 brochure for all the opportunities here. Learn more about CCM Prep’s May events after the jump.

CCM Prep Rings in Spring With An Exciting Series of Events

March will be filled with a series of phenomenal, talent-filled events thanks to CCM Prep. From dazzling musicals to chamber music recitals, the students of CCM’s Preparatory Department present something for everyone this month!

CCM Prep’s Amy Dennison on Performing: The Good, The Bad & When Do I Start?

After her guest post on “Why Your Child Needs the Arts”, Family Friendly Cincinnati invited our own Amy Dennison, Director of  the CCM Preparatory Department, back as a guest contributor. You can view Dennison’s latest post on kids and the performing arts here.