CCDS 2026 Arts Hall of Fame Celebration

In May as the school year was wrapping up, Cincinnati Country Day School celebrated the enduring impact of the arts during its 2026 Arts Hall of Fame induction ceremony, recognizing alumni and faculty members for their contributions to the fine, musical, performing, and literary arts at CCDS and beyond.

“This evening celebrates excellence in the arts, but not excellence measured only in awards and titles. What we honor tonight is a sustained commitment to craft, to learning, to teaching, and to using creativity as a way of engaging meaningfully with the world,” said Nick Rose, arts department chair, during the ceremony. “The Arts Hall of Fame exists to affirm what we have always known at CCDS: The arts are not an accessory to education; they are essential to it. They teach us to live with ambiguity, to trust process, and to believe that creativity can shape both careers and communities.”

This year’s inductees include long-time faculty member Lois Poe Rust, artist and educator Jim Taylor `77, musician and songwriter Susan Pepper `95, and clarinetist and educator Rob Patterson `02. Frances Kovach `23 and Ben Stacy `20 were also recognized with the Young Alumni Recognition Award.

Upper School art teacher Amy Brand reflected on Frances Kovach’s impact as a student, saying, “She wasn’t just part of the fine arts; she shaped it, defined it, and left it bigger and better than she found it.” Kovach, now studying psychology at the University of Kentucky, spoke about the role the arts played during her time at Country Day. “The arts department gives you a space to be yourself and express yourself. You can spread a message and make an impact on your community.”

Ben Stacy, an accomplished sound designer currently working professionally in live and recorded productions, was praised by Evan DiTullio, technical theater director, for his innovative leadership in technical theater.

The evening also celebrated the faculty members and mentors who helped cultivate generations of artists. Lois Rust, inducted in absentia, was described by Head of School Rob Zimmerman `98 as someone who “ignited a passion for drama that some didn’t even know they had.”

Jim Taylor, an internationally recognized painter, sculptor, and educator, spent the week teaching CCDS students on campus before accepting his award. In his remarks, he emphasized the importance of supporting the arts in every era. “Small communities flourish by supporting their culture. It is of the utmost importance for the arts to thrive despite war, technological development, and disease.”

Susan Pepper shared an original song titled “While We Travel Through This Land,” centered on empathy and human connection. Reflecting on her own journey, Pepper explained that although she did not pursue music professionally until after college, Country Day laid the foundation for both her artistic and academic life. “The arts help us ground in the present moment, and connect with one another as humans and to the world around us.”

Rob Patterson, now on the faculty at Boston University’s School of Music, reflected on the sense of belonging he experienced at CCDS. “The prevailing emotion when I think of Country Day is safety to struggle, to explore, to fail, and to grow. Even when we were stumbling, confused, or making a spectacular mess, our teachers stood firmly in our corner.”

Throughout the evening, speakers returned to a common theme: The arts are not only a source of creativity but also a powerful force for empathy, curiosity, and community.

“[The arts] help us remember who we have been; they help us understand who we are; they give shape to our shared memory,” said Zimmerman during the ceremony. “Our Arts Hall of Fame celebrates the school’s strong and vibrant tradition in the arts…. Our honorees remind our current students that they stand on the shoulders of giants; that they are part of a long and distinguished line of artistic excellence.”

Pictured (from left to right): Susan Pepper `95, Jim Taylor `77, Rob Patterson `02, Frances Kovach `23, Head of School Rob Zimmerman `98 (not pictured: Ben Stacy `20 and Lois Poe Rust).