CCM Philharmonia Begins Exciting Trek Through the ‘Great Decade’ This Friday, Sept. 4

The acclaimed CCM Philharmonia begins its 2015­–16 season at 8 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 4, with a performance that will inaugurate the orchestra’s adventure through what CCM Professor Mark Gibson has dubbed the “Great Decade.”

The period in question – ranging from 1900 through 1909 – is noteworthy due to the explosion of cutting edge compositional techniques and modernist composers that would completely reshape the musical landscape.

In place of the homogeny that defined previous eras such as the Classical and Romantic periods, art music at the dawn of the 20th century saw the emergence of composers with very distinct, individual voices, as well as established composers evolving in new, creative ways.

“This particular period of time may be the outstanding symphonic decade in all of western classical music,” explains Gibson, the head of CCM’s Department of Orchestral Studies and music director for the CCM Philharmonia. “From an orchestral standpoint, CCM has never had a more exciting season.”

The CCM Philharmonia’s season-opening concert on Friday, Sept. 4, focuses on composers from Russia and Austria, giving the audience a taste of these new tracts in classical music.

Igor Stravinsky, often considered the father of both Primitivism (The Rite of Spring) and Neoclassicism (Pulcinella), is represented with one of his earliest works: the orchestral suite Fireworks.

Arnold Schoenberg is also showcased with his Five Orchestral Pieces, a highly chromatic work that can be seen as a gateway into his revolutionary work with atonality (Pierrot Lunaire) and 12-tone technique (Variations for Orchestra).

Finally, the concert ends with the rich orchestral colors of famed pianist/composer Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2 in E Minor, Op. 28, a work that represents the transition from the previous Romantic era to a new and different world.

This special concert event also opens with an added treat: cellists from the Cincinnati Young Artists (CYA) program will join the CCM Philharmonia in a special version of “The Star-Spangled Banner” arranged by Distinguished Teaching Professor of Music Theory and Composition Miguel Roig-Francolí. The arrangement, written for 50 cellos, represents the 50 states.

This same rendition of the national anthem will also be performed the following evening (7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5), as UC President Santa J. Ono joins musicians from both CCM and the CYA on cello to perform the work at the inauguration of the newly renovated Nippert Stadium prior to the Bearcats’ football home opener against Alabama A&M. You can learn more about this performance by visiting uc.edu/news/NR.aspx?id=22149.

The CCM Philharmonia’s Sept. 4 performance gives a small glimpse of what is to come during this season’s celebration of the “Great Decade.” Learn more about this four-concert adventure below!
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THE GREAT DECADE (1900–1909): A SEASON OF EXPLORATION

8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4
WORKS FROM RUSSIA AND AUSTRIA
CCM Philharmonia
Mark Gibson, music director and conductor
STRAVINSKY: Fireworks
SCHOENBERG: Five Orchestral Pieces
RACHMANINOFF: Symphony No. 2 in E Minor, Op. 28
Location: Corbett Auditorium
Tickets: $15 general, $10 non-UC students, UC students FREE.

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8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2
WORKS FROM ITALY AND ENGLAND
CCM Philharmonia
Mark Gibson, music director and conductor
RAVEL: Alborada del Grazioso
PUCCINI: Duetto: “Bimba, bimba non piangere” (from Madama Butterfly)
ELGAR: Symphony No. 1 in A-flat Major, Op. 55
Location: Corbett Auditorium
Tickets: $15 general, $10 non-UC students, UC students FREE.

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8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20
MAHLER’S SYMPHONY NO. 7
CCM Philharmonia
Mark Gibson, music director
Ulrich Nicolai, guest conductor
MOZART: Piano concerto TBA
Feat. the winner of the CCM Piano Concerto Competition
MAHLER: Symphony No. 7
Location: Corbett Auditorium
Tickets: $15 general, $10 non-UC students, UC students FREE.

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8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29
RICHARD STRAUSS’ SALOME
CCM Philharmonia
Featuring faculty artists Amy Johnson, Kenneth Shaw and Tom Baresel, along with several student soloists
Mark Gibson, music director and conductor
Robin Guarino, stage director
The capstone of CCM’s festival celebrating the “Great Decade,” Richard Strauss’ 1905 masterpiece Salome represents the epitome of pre-World War I decadence, opulence and extravagance. An adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s controversial stage work of the same name, this staging is an hour and a half of irresistible drama and ecstatic hyper-romanticism. It is a must see for opera fans, theatre enthusiasts and lovers of massive orchestral sound.
Location: Corbett Auditorium
Tickets: $15 general, $10 non-UC students, UC students FREE.

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Purchasing Tickets
Tickets can be purchased in person at the CCM Box Office, over the telephone at 513-556-4183 or online now through our e-Box Office!

Visit ccm.uc.edu/boxoffice for CCM Box Office hours and location.

Parking and Directions
Parking is available in the CCM Garage (located at the base of Corry Boulevard off Jefferson Avenue) and additional garages throughout the UC campus. Please visit uc.edu/parking for more information on parking rates.

For detailed maps and directions, please visit uc.edu/visitors. Additional parking is available off-campus at the U Square complex on Calhoun Street and other neighboring lots.

For directions to CCM Village, visit ccm.uc.edu/about/directions.

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CCM Season Presenting Sponsor & Musical Theatre Program Sponsor: The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation

Community Partner: ArtsWave

Orchestral Sponsor: Mr. & Mrs. Joseph W. Hirschhorn
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A preeminent institution for the performing and media arts, CCM is the largest single source of performing arts presentations in the state of Ohio.All event dates and programs are subject to change. For a complete calendar of events, please visit us online at ccm.uc.edu.

CCM Video: The Make-Up and Wig Design Program Illustrates How to Paint a Bearcat Face

The University of Cincinnati “Bearcats” name officially turns 100 years old this month!

To help celebrate the enduring legacy of the Bearcat, CCM Assistant Professor of Make-Up Kelly Yurko and Make-Up and Wig Design major Una Lin present a one minute demonstration on how to paint a Bearcat face. View the full video below!

The Bearcat moniker was born on Oct. 31, 1914, during a home football game against the Kentucky Wildcats. UC will celebrate the 100th birthday of the name with a variety of special activities next Friday, Oct. 31!

Learn the complete history of the Bearcat by visiting http://www.uc.edu/bearcats.

CCM Video: Imagine the Possibilities with CCM Drama

Graduating CCM E-Media student Tim Neumann (BFA, 2014) has created a stunning video exploration of CCM’s acclaimed Department of Drama.

Described by Backstage magazine as a “first-rate BFA program in acting, ” CCM Drama creates graduates who go on to careers in theatre, film, television and national media. Watch the video above and imagine the possibilities.

With programs like E-Media and Drama living side-by-side, it’s easy to see why CCM is considered a preeminent institution for the performing and media arts!

Learn more about CCM’s Department of Drama by visiting ccm.uc.edu/theatre/drama.

Learn more about CCM’s Division of Electronic Media by visiting ccm.uc.edu/emedia.

CCM Announces Fall 2013 Calendar of Major Events

Download a copy of CCM’s Fall 2013 Calendar Booklet today!

The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) is delighted to announce its fall schedule of major events. The largest single source of performing arts events in the state of Ohio, CCM presents more than 120 major public performances from Sept. 4 through Dec. 14, ranging from faculty and guest artist concerts to fully supported opera, musical theatre, drama and dance productions.

View a digital copy of CCM’s Fall 2013 Calendar Booklet today by visiting on.uc.edu/CCMFall2013. Refer to the listings below for more details.

Event Information
All events listed here will take place in CCM Village on the University of Cincinnati campus unless otherwise indicated. Admission is free to many CCM performances, although some events do require purchased tickets or reservations. Please see individual event information for details and ordering information.

All event dates and programs are subject to change. Visit ccm.uc.edu  or contact the CCM Box Office at 513-556-4183 for the most current event information.

Choral. Jazz. Orchestra. Winds. Piano. Percussion. Guest Artists. And Much More…

With nearly 40 major concert productions planned for our 2013-14 concert season, here is just a glimpse of what’s COMING UP at CCM!

Subscription and concert flex packages are on sale now. Single tickets are on sale beginning Sept. 9, 2013. Learn more at ccm.uc.edu.

CCM Announces 2013-14 Mainstage Concert Series Schedule

Photography by Dottie Stover.

CCM is pleased to announce initial details on its 2013-14 Mainstage Series of concert performances. Encompassing more than 40 different concerts, this series begins with a production of Verdi’s grand opera Don Carlos on Sept. 22 and concludes with the annual concerto competition-winners concert on April 11.

The internationally acclaimed Ariel Quartet will present a complete tour of Beethoven’s string quartets as part of CCM’s upcoming season, with six concerts scheduled for January, February and March.

CCM’s 2013-14 concert series also features a rare staged performance of Bach’s St. John Passion presented in conjunction with the Constella Festival of Music and Fine Arts, a year-long Britten Centennial Celebration, a jazz tribute to the Rolling Stones, a concert dedicated to Richard Wagner’s 200th birthday, a performance of John Adams’ opera-oratorio El Niño and much more.

Several popular concert productions are also returning, including the annual Feast of Carols, Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite featuring CCM’s Jazz Ensembles and Musical Theatre Dancers, the annual PRISM concert and the latest installment of Pianopalooza.

Event Information
All events listed below take place on the campus of the University of Cincinnati unless otherwise indicated. Please see individual event information for single-ticket prices and ordering information.

New subscription and flex ticket packages go on sale Monday, June 17, 2013. Single tickets go on sale beginning Monday, Sept. 9.

All event dates and programs are subject to change. Visit ccm.uc.edu or contact the CCM Box Office at 513-556-4183 for the most current event information.

ON SALE NOW: Subscription and Flex Ticket Packages For CCM’s 2013-14 Season

CCM presents a “must-see” series of performing arts events in 2013-14. Subscription and flex ticket packages are on sale now!

Subscriptions and flex ticket packages for what the Cincinnati Enquirer has dubbed CCM’s 2013-14 “mega-season” go on sale at 12 noon today!

Featuring over 50 major concerts and theatre arts productions, CCM’s 2013-14 season spans the spectrum of the performing arts.

Learn more about our Mainstage Series of Opera, Musical Theatre, Drama and Dance here.

Learn more about our schedule of Chamber Music, Choral, Jazz, Orchestral, Winds and Special Event Concerts here.

Secure your seats before these must-see performances sell out!

For more information, contact the CCM Box Office at 513-556-4183 or boxoff@uc.edu. You can also visit us online at ccm.uc.edu/boxoffice.

Download a copy of our 2013-14 Season-at-a-Glance now!

Stay tuned to this site for more information about the exciting things we have planned for 2013-14!

CityBeat’s Annual ‘Best of Cincinnati’ Issue Spotlights CCM

We are delighted to be named “Best Place to Catch a Rising Star” in CityBeat‘s annual Best of Cincinnati issue, which is on newsstands (and available online) now! CityBeat‘s editors write:

UC’s College-Conservatory of Music is one of the top three musical theater programs in the nation. Every year hundreds of aspiring high school kids audition for one of 20 or so slots in the freshman class. (That’s more selective than most Division I sports teams.) Following graduation, they head straight for Broadway where multiple productions typically feature CCM alumni. It’s not unusual for one or two to be nominated for Tony Awards, such as Karen Olivo as Anita in the recent revival of West Side Story.

We are equally thrilled to report that CCM student Kris Rucinski was recognized for performing the year’s “Best Piano Concerto” during last November’s American Voices XV concert. Again, CityBeat‘s editors write:

At a November American Voices concert honoring great American Modernist composers, UC College-Conservatory of Music first-year graduate student Kris Rucinski wowed and thrilled an audience with his performance of Lou Harrison’s challenging, complicated Piano Concerto. The late Harrison wrote it for Keith Jarrett, an indication of just how demanding a work it is. By turns fiery and meditative, developing through four challenging movements, it is as much Cecil Taylor-ish eruptive Jazz as it is calm Classical, but Rucinski showed himself more than up for the task and ready to be Jarrett’s successor – or anyone’s. One only hopes there are more chances to see him while he is a student here and before he becomes an in-demand concert soloist.

We would like to congratulate all of our friends and partners also featured in this special issue of CityBeat, too!

University of Cincinnati Passes $1 Billion Fundraising Goal Four Months Early

UC announced that it surpassed the $1 billion goal of its Proudly Cincinnati campaign, the most ambitious fundraising effort in the university’s history. In all, more than 91,000 individual and corporate donors – including alumni, staff, community partners, corporations, foundations and friends of the university – helped UC reach the $1 billion mark four months ahead of the campaign’s June 2013 deadline.

This achievement places UC among one percent of all U.S. colleges and universities to have ever raised $1 billion.

“Raising $1 billion is a truly remarkable achievement, and we should take a moment to reflect and celebrate and, above all, to thank those who have supported us so generously,” said UC President Santa J. Ono, PhD. “The key to this fundraising success, though, is not simply that we raised the money but the impact it will have on everything from experiential learning to opportunities to study abroad.”

CCM Presents ‘Prism XVI: From Fanfares to Festivities’ on Feb. 27

CCM hosts a musical celebration during the annual Prism Concert!

CCM presents its 16th annual Prism Concert at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 24 in UC’s Corbett Auditorium. This perennially popular concert features performances by CCM’s jazz, vocal, brass choir, percussion and wind ensembles.

The Bearcat Bands Drumline, a horn and harp duo, a piano soloist and the CCM Preparatory Department’s Cincinnati Youth Wind Ensemble will also be featured during this concert’s 60 minutes of nonstop music. Glenn D. Price and Terence Milligan conduct.

Keep the chill away by surrounding yourself with warm sounds from various locations in Corbett Auditorium! This year’s theme, “From Fanfares to Festivities,” promises to be exciting from start to finish with iconic music honoring events and celebrations.