CCM Welcomes Jesse Blumberg and Martin Katz for Schubert Residency in February

CCM alumnus Jesse Blumberg, baritone.

Next month, CCM welcomes alumnus Jesse Blumberg, baritone (MM, ’03), and renowned collaborative pianist Martin Katz for FREE performances of Franz Schubert’s two great Lieder cycles!

Blumberg and Katz will perform Shubert’s Die schöne Müllerin at 8 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 11 and Winterreise at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 13. Both song cycles will be performed in CCM’s Robert J. Werner Recital Hall and are open to the general public. Reservations are not required.

Below, watch Blumberg and Katz perform “Der Wegweiser” from Winterreise at the inaugural Collaborative Works Festival in Chicago.

This residency is made possible by support from the Jeannine Philippe Art Song Fund. Learn more about that fund’s namesake, CCM Professor Emeritus of Voice Jeannine Philippe, here.

Three CCM Students Progress to Met Opera Regional Auditions in Chicago

Congratulations to the following winners of the Metropolitan Opera District Council Auditions, which were held on Oct. 20 at CCM:

• soprano Chabrelle Denise Williams, student of Barbara Paver at CCM
• tenor Yi Li, student of David Adams at CCM
• bass-baritone Thomas Richards, student of William McGraw at CCM
• baritone Reginald Reggie Smith Jr, student of Everett McCorvey at the University of Kentucky

These singers will progress to the Regional Auditions in Chicago on Nov. 4.

CCM Hosts Met Opera Regional Auditions This Saturday

Hear the opera stars of tomorrow compete for a chance to “win the Met” and kick-start a major operatic career at the Metropolitan Opera District Council Auditions for Southern Ohio. This free event will take place 10 a.m.–6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 20, in Robert J. Werner Recital Hall at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM).

Local audiences have the opportunity to sample operatic selections sung by some of Southern Ohio’s most talented young singers throughout the day at this event!

CCM Hosts Metropolitan Opera National Council Southern Ohio Regional Auditions on Oct. 22

Hear the stars of tomorrow compete for a chance to “win the Met,” and kick start a major operatic career, at the Metropolitan Opera District Council Auditions for Southern Ohio. This free event is open to the public and will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 22 in Robert J. Werner Recital Hall in CCM Village.

CCM Opera Student Takes First Place in Houston Grand Opera Young Singers Competition

Baritone Mark Diamond, a first year Master of Music student at CCM, recently took first place in the Houston Grand Opera‘s 23rd Annual Eleanor McCollum Competition for Young Singers.

CCM Students Advance to Met Opera Central Region Finals in Chicago

Congratulations to two of our own: soprano Xi Wang and mezzo-soprano Audrey Walstrom, both of whom have advanced to the next round in the Metropolitan Opera National Council (MONC) Auditions!

Amongst stiff competition, Wang and Walstrom were singled out by the judges and now move on to the Central Region Finals in Chicago. Also receiving accolades was mezzo-soprano Deborah Nansteel, who was given an encouragement award by the judges.

MONC is a program designed to discover promising young opera singers and assist in the development of their careers. Many of the world’s foremost singers, including Renée Fleming, Susan Graham, Thomas Hampson, Ben Heppner, Jessye Norman, Samuel Ramey, Frederica von Stade, Deborah Voigt and Dolora Zajick have received awards from the National Council. Annually, approximately 100 former auditioners appear in Metropolitan Opera productions.