This is how breakthroughs happen.
A MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN
CCM is an extraordinary hub for the performing and media arts. Every day our students and faculty push artistic boundaries while our alumni make their mark across the nation and the world. In this moment of pride and promise, we are building on our rich legacy while charting an ambitious course for the future that embraces innovation, strengthens community and ensures access for the next generation of artists and arts leaders.
Your support makes this possible. Together, we can open new doors, amplify our impact and write the next act of CCM’s remarkable story. We invite you to be a part of this special journey.
PETE JUTRAS, PhD Dean and Thomas James Kelly Professor of Music College-Conservatory of Music
THE NEXT ACT BEGINS WITH YOU
The College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) at the University of Cincinnati is one of the nation’s preeminent institutions for performing and media arts training. With world-class faculty and a legacy of excellence in music, theatre and dance, CCM has served as a launching pad for the next generation of artists, educators and creative leaders for 150 years.
Today, we stand at a breakthrough moment, and the stage is full of opportunity.
National recognition, award-winning alumni and growing demand for our graduates have aligned with new leadership and the momentum of UC’s strategic direction, Next Lives Here. Centered on supporting our students’ success, we have launched a bold vision to expand access and shape the future of the performing arts.
This vision will support three breakthrough priorities:
• Expand access and core resources: Increase the number of scholarships that remove financial barriers and attract the most promising artists from across the country. Provide facilities that allow them to flourish.
• Elevate real world experiences: Grow co-ops, mentorships and industry partnerships that connect students to professional networks and career pathways.
• Foster innovation: Support new works and renovated, technology-integrated classrooms and performance halls, alongside revolutionary programming that champions excellence.
This vision is a bold invitation to reimagine what a top-tier performing arts education looks like in the 21st century and to leave a lasting legacy in the lives of artists, the vitality of the region and the culture of our nation.
The stage is set. The music is cued. The next act begins with you.
“After winning the Jimmy Awards this summer, I suddenly had all these amazing opportunities in front of me. As a kid from Nevada, it felt surreal to even be in that position. When it came time to make a choice, CCM just felt different. It has this incredible energy and reputation that I knew would push me to grow into the kind of artist I want to be. The Hoffman Scholars program made it all possible. To know that I can throw myself fully into my training, into every class and rehearsal, without the weight of finances on my mind, is a wonderful gift.”
CHRIS HAYES, BFA ’29 Musical
Hoffman Honors Scholar 2025 Jimmy Award for Best Performance by an Actor
Theatre
EXPAND ACCESS AND CORE RESOURCES
Secure funding, facilities, staffing and materials to support our mission.
All great performances start with strong foundations. At CCM, those foundations are people, spaces and tools. Our students arrive with extraordinary talent and ambition, but they need scholarships, facilities and support to flourish.
Funding priorities:
Transformative scholarship endowment
Secure long-term access for generations of artists through a general scholarship fund. This endowment will be a game-changer, allowing CCM to recruit the most promising artists with confidence and consistency through life-changing scholarships.
• Recruitment scholarships
Strengthen CCM’s ability to attract top-tier talent from across the country. This investment allows CCM to offer competitive full ride scholarships that remove financial barriers for gifted students and unlock access to world-class training.
• Retention scholarships
Create an annual funding pool to support students throughout their academic journey. These funds help students stay focused on their craft instead of juggling jobs or financial stress, ensuring that talent is nurtured, not lost.
Reimagined learning spaces
• Implement phased renovations, naming opportunities and technology enhancements across CCM’s facilities. These upgrades will elevate every rehearsal, class and performance, aligning our spaces with the brilliance happening inside them.
• Design flexible, collaborative and tech-integrated environments for 21st-century learning. These spaces will spark creativity, foster innovation and prepare students for careers that don’t yet exist.
“Being part of the first CCM Summer in LA co-op class was amazing. As a post-production intern at FunMeter, I worked on two new documentary series headed for streaming and got to see how an idea becomes reality, from being on set with Emmynominated filmmakers James Lee Hernandez and Brian Lazarte (CCM ‘06) to collaborating with editors and producers in post. The scholarships I received made it possible to focus on learning and networking instead of worrying about living expenses.”
AIDAN BRITTON-HEITZ, CCM ’25 Summer co-op at FunMeter, Hulu and Netflix
ELEVATE REAL WORLD EXPERIENCES
Engage alumni, industry and campus collaborators in meaningful ways.
CCM is powerful on its own, but unstoppable when connected. Our students thrive when they engage with the broader world through alumni, industry and community partnerships. Co-ops and experiential learning programs are an essential extension of these relationships that are foundational to launching careers of meaning and impact.
By leveraging strategic partnerships here in Cincinnati and across the globe, CCM provides students with professional networks, mentorships and real-world experience that extend beyond the classroom.
Funding priorities:
Expand co-op experiences
Increase the number of professional placements like the CCM Summer in LA program to give students real-world experience. These immersive opportunities build confidence, adaptability and industry connections that launch careers.
Build strategic partnerships
Strengthen mentorship and co-op opportunities through deeper alumni and industry connections. These relationships open doors, build networks and create a bridge from classroom to career.
Connect artistic communities
Position CCM as a vibrant hub for arts innovation and student opportunity. Students benefit from exposure to diverse artistic communities and world views that expand their creative horizons.
Cultivate global perspectives
Embed global learning opportunities—including study abroad programs—to empower students to expand their perspectives, build cross-cultural competencies and prepare them to thrive in an interconnected world.
“If not for CCM, we likely wouldn’t have the opportunity to perform together as a quartet. The full support we’ve received—financially, artistically and institutionally has given us the time and space to grow as a quartet. It’s rare for young ensembles to have this kind of opportunity, and we’re incredibly grateful. There are very few opportunities for emerging string quartets in the U.S. CCM bringing this program to life is a real contribution to the future of chamber music. It’s not just about us—it’s about creating a model that can support the next generation.”
POIESIS QUARTET
Sarah Ying Ma, CCM ’26 (violin); Max Ball, CCM ’26 (violin) Jasper de Boor, CCM ’26 (viola); Drew Dansby, CCM ’26 (cello)
Poiesis Quartet, pictured performing together as part of UC’s Graduate Chamber Music Ensemblein-Residence program, exemplifies the artistry and excellence nurtured on campus. In 2025, the ensemble earned international acclaim by winning the Banff International String Quartet Competition —among the most prestigious chamber music competitions in the world.
FOSTER INNOVATION
Encourage new ideas in programming, research and performance.
CCM has always been a laboratory for the arts, a place where bold ideas take root and grow. With donor support, we will accelerate that tradition and become a national model for innovation in arts education.
Funding priorities:
CCM New Works Fund
This fund will be a catalyst for bold, cross-disciplinary work that prepares students to lead in a collaborative arts ecosystem. This investment will support up to 10 new creative projects annually.
Health and wellness initiatives
Develop artist-centered wellness programs, including tailored physical therapy and mental health support. These resources ensure that students thrive artistically and personally, building resilience for demanding careers.
Technology-enhanced creativity
Support interdisciplinary projects that blend performance with emerging technologies. Students will explore new artistic frontiers and develop skills for the evolving creative economy.
Faculty and student innovation grants
Enable creative risk-taking and experimentation across departments. These grants will fuel breakthrough ideas and foster a culture of exploration, invention and excellence.
THANK YOU
Thank you for your consideration of a gift to help us fuel CCM’s breakthrough moment. Your support empowers innovation in the arts, transforms student lives and strengthens the cultural heartbeat of Cincinnati and beyond.
Together, we’re shaping the future of performing arts, education and creative leadership.
CONTACT
Pete Jutras, PhD
Dean and Thomas James Kelly Professor of Music College-Conservatory of Music
Peter.Jutras@uc.edu
513-556-3737
Elaine M. Cox, MA, MBA, CFRE
Senior Director of Development College-Conservatory of Music
Elaine.Cox@foundation.uc.edu
513-556-2528
937-478-0763
Annie Bloemer, MA, MBA
Associate Director of Development College-Conservatory of Music
Anna.Bloemer@foundation.uc.edu
513-556-4441
513-312-4412
