Dean Jutras looks back on year two at CCM

Dean Jutras looks back on year two at CCM

CCM's dean shares a message as he enters his third year

Dear CCM community,

When I look back on my second year as dean of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, one word comes to mind: momentum.

One of the greatest privileges of serving as dean is continuing to build relationships, within CCM, across campus, here in Cincinnati and in the cities where our alumni are thriving. Cincinnati's arts community is remarkably collaborative, and I've been grateful for the warm welcome that has allowed me to work alongside our city's outstanding cultural organizations and creative leaders. Those partnerships are essential to creating meaningful opportunities for our students while ensuring that CCM remains at the forefront of arts education.

That same spirit of collaboration inspired the relaunch of the CCM Dean's Advisory Council, one of the initiatives I'm most proud of this year. We wanted to create a group that reflects the remarkable breadth of the CCM family by bringing together accomplished alumni and industry leaders whose experiences span Broadway, Hollywood, orchestras, music education, nonprofit leadership, business and the performing arts.

Our inaugural council includes:

• Shoshana Bean (BFA '99), Tony and GRAMMY Award-winning performer
• Stephen Flaherty (BM '84), Tony and GRAMMY Award-winning composer
• Leigh Fox, President and CEO of altafiber
• John Holiday (MM '12), internationally acclaimed performer hailed by the LA Times as "one of the finest countertenors of his generation"
• Dan Hoffheimer, Partner Emeritus at Taft
• William Langley (MM '18), Resident Conductor of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Staff Conductor of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, and Music Director of the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra
• Brian Lazarte (BFA '04), filmmaker whose work includes The Big Conn, McMillion$ and Born to Bowl
• Jeremy Mayo (MFA '20), Senior Director of Technical Production at Sphere Las Vegas
• Darrell Miller (BM '85), entertainment attorney; Partner at Fox Rothschild
• Robert McGrath, President and CEO of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
• Blake Robison, Producing Artistic Director of Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park
• Ryan Stana, Executive Chairman of RWS Global
• Todd Stoll (MM '91), Vice President of Education at Jazz at Lincoln Center
• Shaun Sutton (BFA '14), Vice President of Creative Development and Production at Blumhouse
• Patrice Willoughby (MM '92), Chief Policy and Legislative Affairs Officer for the NAACP
• Torie Wiggins (BFA '03), Artistic Associate at Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati

Their willingness to share their time, expertise and perspective is a tremendous gift to CCM, and I know their guidance will help shape our future for years to come.

Expanding what's possible

One of the things that excites me most about CCM is our adaptability - we are always evolving while staying true to who we are. The performing arts are changing rapidly, and it's our responsibility to ensure our students are prepared not only for today's careers, but for the opportunities that are still emerging.

That commitment starts with the people who teach and mentor our students.

I'm especially pleased to welcome Dr. Rachel Roberts as CCM's inaugural Associate Dean for Strategy and Operations. Rachel has spent her career helping arts organizations and educational institutions think boldly about leadership, innovation, and organizational excellence. Her experience at the Eastman School of Music, the New England Conservatory of Music and the Atlanta Symphony, along with her national reputation as a leader in arts education, make her an invaluable partner as we continue implementing our strategic vision.

My office also welcomed Larry Daniels, who serves as Associate to the Dean. His arrival has brought strategic leadership of staff, thoughtful follow up to colleagues across campus, and a welcoming presence to every student, faculty member, parent or community member who walks through these doors.

This year, CCM is proud to share that we are expanding into exciting new academic areas. Dr. Quanice Floyd joins CCM to establish an online Arts Administration program, building on our more than 50-year legacy as a leader in arts administration education. Dr. Sekyung Jang will help launch our new Music Therapy program in partnership with UC's College of Medicine and the Osher Center for Integrative Health, creating new opportunities for students interested in the intersection of music, health, and healing.

CCM also welcomes an exceptional group of new faculty members whose professional experiences span the breadth of the performing arts. Avery Bargassé joins Musical Theatre Voice after a distinguished career that includes performances with the Cincinnati Opera, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, and renowned recording artist, Josh Groban. Dance welcomes Megan Flynn, an accomplished performer and choreographer whose work has been presented internationally, while Cincinnati native Brandon Kelly brings extensive experience to Musical Theatre Dance, including his involvement in both the Broadway production and national tour of the acclaimed musical Come From Away. Ethnomusicologist Dr. Joshua Adewole Kerobo, whose research explores African popular music, Black musical traditions, and the cultural impact of music both globally and here in Cincinnati, will be joining our Composition, Musicology, and Theory division. In Piano, we are thrilled to welcome internationally acclaimed pianist Liza Stepanova, known for her innovative artistry and critically celebrated recordings. In Violin, acclaimed soloist and Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center artist member Danbi Um joins the faculty, bringing a career that has taken her to many of the world's premier concert stages.

Innovation continues across the college with expansion of its thriving Media Production program with the addition of Ben Nicholson in Immersive Media and Visuals for Live Events and J.R. Paredes in Film and Media Scoring. Nicholson's work has helped shape groundbreaking visual experiences for globally recognized artists (U2, Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, Kanye West, Bruno Mars, Jay-Z, League of Legends and the Super Bowl Halftime Show) while Paredes brings a multidisciplinary background that spans film, music production, audio engineering, and composition with their work being featured on Apple TV+ and Prime Video. Their appointments reflect CCM's commitment to being a leader in the entertainment industry that creates new opportunities for our current and future students.

Looking ahead, we will welcome Jordan Davis as CCM's new Assistant Dean of Admissions on Oct. 1, 2026. An experienced leader who most recently oversaw the admissions operations at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory, Davis will play a pivotal role in CCM's student recruitment and admissions efforts.

Together, these new colleagues represent the breadth of disciplines shaping the future of the performing arts, and I couldn't be more excited to welcome them to the CCM family. You can learn more about these new colleagues, along with several other new CCM hires, by clicking here.

Learning beyond the classroom

One of the defining characteristics of a CCM education has always been the opportunity to learn by doing. This year, we took another significant step forward with the completion of our new sports media broadcast control room, a project that has been years in the making.

Connected by fiber to Nippert Stadium, Fifth Third Arena, UC Baseball Stadium and Gettler Stadium, the facility gives our students something few universities can offer: the opportunity to produce live broadcasts from multiple venues using the same technology, workflows, and expectations they'll encounter in the professional world.

The impact was immediate. Earlier this year, our Media Production students worked alongside UC Athletics to produce two live sporting events simultaneously: a nationally televised Cincinnati Men's Basketball game on ESPN and a UC Baseball game. The new control room makes that possible, allowing students to gain hands-on experience while covering multiple events at once.

The facility is already attracting attention beyond our campus. Representatives from CBS have toured the space, and NBC has expressed interest in utilizing our facilities for future productions. This brings us recognition, but even more importantly it allows our students to work alongside industry professionals while they're still earning their degrees.

To me, that's what makes CCM special. Whether a student is performing on stage, composing a film score, managing an arts organization or producing a live broadcast, they're learning in environments that mirror the professions they're preparing to enter.

Celebrating the success of our alumni

One of the greatest joys of my role is celebrating the accomplishments of our alumni. And this year there were many. In the spring, Cameron Anderson (MFA '02) was awarded the prestigious Rome Prize, one of the world's highest honors for artists and scholars. Marla Mindelle (BFA '06) continued the extraordinary success of Titanique on Broadway, dazzling audiences as both co-creator and the unforgettable Celine Dion, for which she received multiple award nominations, including the Tony, Drama Desk and Drama League. Isabella Byrd (BFA '09) also received her third Tony nomination this spring for her work on Dog Day Afternoon. Chandler Johnson (BM '16, MM '18) was appointed Artistic Director of Dayton Opera, continuing CCM's proud tradition of preparing leaders in the performing arts. Xian Zhang (att. '97-'00), who attended CCM for her doctoral studies, was named Music Director of the Seattle Symphony, becoming the first woman in the orchestra's 123-year history to hold that position.

These accomplishments are only a snapshot of what our alumni achieve every day around the world. They perform on the world's greatest stages, lead respected arts organizations, create groundbreaking work, and mentor future generations of artists. They are among CCM's greatest ambassadors, and I couldn't be prouder of all they continue to accomplish.

A new vision for CCM

Throughout the year, we've continued to develop CCM's new strategic plan, it's first in over a decade. This effort has been shaped by conversations with students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors, industry leaders and community partners. Together, we've identified three ideas that will guide our next chapter: Connect. Create. Move.

We will Connect students more deeply with the industries and communities they will serve, providing more opportunities for internships, partnerships and real-world learning experiences.

We will Create by encouraging new works, innovative teaching, interdisciplinary collaboration and a focus on the human creativity that is taught in every aspect of CCM and is an increasingly valued quality in an AI-driven world.

And we will Move the world by championing the transformative power of the arts to improve lives, strengthen communities and inspire positive change.

I'm excited to share more about this vision in the coming year as we bring these ideas to life.

A strong start to the 2026-27 school year

Thank you for believing in CCM and for investing your time, talent and generosity in our students. I'm excited about where we're headed together, and I hope you'll continue to be part of the journey. If our paths haven't crossed yet, I hope you'll introduce yourself at a performance this season or join me for Coffee with the Dean on October 22 to learn more about CCM's new strategic plan. My wife Kristin and I look forward to seeing you soon.

All best,

Peter J. Jutras, PhD
Dean and Thomas James Kelly Professor of Music at CCM

Learn more about Moveable Feast by clicking the above graphic or visiting foundation.uc.edu/MoveableFeast

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Featured image at top: CCM Dean Pete Jutras in front of Mary Emery Hall. Photo/Andrew Higley/UC Marketing + Brand.

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