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The Office of Student and Residence Life coordinates many events,
including Orientation, Friends and Family Weekend, the Winter Formal,
the Spring Dance, the Rite of Spring Day and Commencement. Commencement
is an important ceremony that celebrates the enormous achievements
of our graduates. It usually occurs in mid-May following the conclusion
of the academic year. The graduation ceremony is followed by a reception
in the School. Families are encouraged to make reservations in the
neighboring restaurants for dinner at the days conclusion. (For
a list of local restaurants,
click here.) Commencement information for May 2008 was mailed
to students and their families in February 2008. Feel free to contact
the Office of Student and Residence Life at studentlife@msmnyc.edu
for more information.
Date, Time, and Place
All candidates for graduation are cordially invited to attend Manhattan
School of Music’s 82nd Commencement, to be held on Friday,
May 16, 2008, at the Riverside Church, 490 Riverside Drive, New
York City, at 2:00 p.m. (For directions to Riverside Church, click
here.) The graduation candidate is responsible for meeting important
deadlines to ensure the ceremony runs smoothly.
100 Days to Graduation Social
On Thursday, February 7, 2008, from 12:00 until 3:00 p.m., graduation
candidates were invited to a social where they could take care of
many of the tasks essential to a smooth commencement day. It was
also an opportunity for graduation candidates to celebrate with
friends as they took care of all graduation requirements at one
time and in one location. At this event, graduation candidates were
be able to:
- Turn in the Commencement Participation Form and the Diploma
Application Form
- Measure for your cap and gown
- Request tickets for guests
- Order rings
- Order announcements to send to family and friends
- Request recordings of recitals
- Request your diplomas
- Join the community of alumni
- Get involved with student philanthropy
- Win prizes!
Forms
Commencement Participation Form and Diploma Application Form:
All students who graduated in December or who are graduating in
May must complete both the Diploma Application Form
and the Commencement Participation Form to ensure
that their name is printed correctly in the program and on the diploma.
(Click
here for the Diploma Application Form) (Click
here for the Commencement Participation Form.)
Tickets
Ordering Tickets:
The commencement ceremony is a ticketed event and all guests must
have a ticket to attend. Graduate candidates may request up to 12
tickets for guests by completing the Commencement Participation
Form by March 28, 2008. Guests may not request tickets;
graduating students must request tickets for guests. Graduation
candidates who do not reside in the New York City area may e-mail
or call Melanie Dorsey, Assistant Director of Student Life, at mdorsey@msmnyc.edu
or (917) 493-4588. If you complete the form over the phone, by e-mail,
or by fax, it is your responsibility to confirm with Melanie that
the information was received clearly, correctly and on time.
Picking up tickets:
Graduating students pick up tickets in the Office of Student and
Residence Life between Monday, April 21, 2008, and Thursday, May
1, 2008 to ensure that all guests receive tickets prior to the day
of the ceremony. Graduate candidates are responsible for picking
up their tickets by May 1, 2008 and distributing them to their guests.
Tickets not picked up by May 1, 2008, will be made available to
other graduate candidates on May 12, 2008 in the Office of Student
and Residence Life.
Please encourage all of your guests to arrive well
before the 2:00 p.m. start of the ceremony so that others in the
audience are not disturbed
Caps and Gowns
Ordering academic attire:
Graduation candidates, faculty, staff, and special guests participating
in the commencement ceremony are requested to dress in academic
attire, including cap, gown, and appropriate hood. Manhattan
School of Music will provide academic attire for graduating students,
faculty, staff, and special guests if they order and measure for
the academic attire by March 28, 2008.
Any graduation candidate who is not in the New York City area should
call Melanie Dorsey at (917) 493-4588 by March 28, 2008, so that
she can make arrangements to order the appropriate academic attire
for you.
Measure for academic attire:
The Office of Student and Residence Life will measure students,
faculty, staff, and special guests for the proper cap and gown between
February 7and March 28, 2008. Those who order and or measure
for academic attire after March 28, 2008, will be charged a late
fee of $25.
Any graduate who is not in the New York City area should call Melanie
Dorsey at (212) 749-2802 x7673 by March 28, 2008, so that she can
make arrangements to order the appropriate academic attire for you.
Pick up academic attire:
Academic attire may be picked up in the Office of Student and Residence
Life between May 5–15, 2008, from 9:00 a.m.– 5:00 p.m.
Graduating students, faculty, staff, and special guests are strongly
encouraged to pick up academic attire prior to the ceremony. Those
who wait until Friday to pick up their attire will do so in the
lineup areas at the Riverside Church.
Returning academic attire:
After the ceremony, the Office of Student and Residence Life will
be open for one hour to accept the return of the cap, gown, and
hood to a designated area. The final deadline for the return of
all caps, gowns, and hoods is Monday, May 19, 2008 at noon. Those
who fail to return the academic apparel by the deadline to the Office
of Student and Residence Life will be charged a $25 late and postal
fee. Additional charges will be made for any academic apparel that
is not returned.
Announcements and Rings
Personalized graduation announcements and rings can be ordered
through Jostens. The announcement is an effective way to let family
and friends know about the graduates’ accomplishment. Jostens
visited the school during the “100 Days to Graduation”
event on Thursday, February 7, 2008 from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
The Jostens representative will also be in the School lobby on March
31, 2008, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. so that personalized graduation
announcements can be ordered. Jostens can also be reached at www.jostens.com
or 1-800- 854-7464 between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. eastern time.
Photos
A professional photographer from Chappell Graduation Images will
be photographing the event, and we encourage you to take advantage
of the photos offered from Chappell Studio. Graduation candidates
are asked to arrive by 11:30 a.m. on Friday, May 16, 2008, to pose
for individual photos in the Assembly Hall of the Riverside Church.
The portraits will be taken from 12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.; therefore
graduation candidates are encouraged to arrive promptly. The professional
photographer will also take a photo of each graduate as he or she
crosses the stage. Proofs will be sent to each graduate 7–10
days after the ceremony. Chappell’s web site can be accessed
at www.gradimages.com and
their customer service number is 1-800-424-3686.
Graduating students are asked to remind guests that they will not
be allowed to stand in the aisles or at the stage to take photos.
Also, tripods and the use of flash are not allowed. Hand-held audiovisual
recording devices are permitted, but guests are asked to come with
extra batteries, as there will be no power sources available.
Rehearsal
There will be a rehearsal for all graduation candidates from 3:00
p.m. to approximately 4:00 p.m. Thursday, May 15, 2008,
in a location to be determined. A pizza party for all those who
participate in the rehearsal will be held immediately following
the practice. The rehearsal is strongly encouraged for all graduating
students.
The Lineup Prior to the Ceremony
Graduates:
Graduation candidates will enter the Riverside Church through the
Claremont Avenue entrance (91 Claremont Avenue) and will proceed
to Assembly Hall to check in and line up. Graduates are encouraged
to arrive by 1:00 p.m., as the line starts moving at 1:30 p.m. The
ceremony will start promptly at 2:00 p.m. Graduates do not return
to the line up area after the ceremony, and are strongly advised
not to bring any bags to the ceremony. Guests are not permitted
to enter through the Claremont Avenue entrance and are not allowed
in the lineup area for the graduation candidates.
Senior Staff, Board of Trustee members, Academic Department
Heads, Honorary Doctorate and Presidential Medal Award Recipients,
and special guests:
All dignitaries sitting on the dais will meet for a social in the
Peter J. Sharp President’s Residence, in Andersen Hall, at
12noon. Dignitaries are welcome to dress in their academic attire
at the social before proceeding to Christ Chapel of the Riverside
Church at 1:30pm.
Faculty and Staff:
Faculty and staff are invited to attend as part of the processional
and must notify the Office of Student and Residence Life of their
intent to participate in the ceremony by March 28, 2008. They will
meet at 1:30 p.m. in the Christ Chapel of Riverside Church to line
up for the processional. Faculty and staff not dressing in academic
garb will need tickets to attend. Tickets for faculty and staff
not processing will be available May 12, if tickets are available.
Duration of the Ceremony
The ceremony will last approximately two and a half hours.
Seating for Guests
Guests enter through 490 Riverside Drive entrance of the Riverside
Church. Doors will open at 1:25 p.m. for ticketed guests with mobility
impairments or other special needs. All other guests with tickets
will be seated at approximately 1:30 p.m. Please allow extra travel
time to accommodate the time needed to find parking and to deal
with other issues related to congestion. All guests are encouraged
to arrive no later than 1:30 p.m., as late guests will be allowed
to enter only at designated times.
Reception
Following the ceremony, you and your guests are invited to a reception
to celebrate your accomplishments. A reception for undergraduates
will take place in the Mitzi Newhouse Pavilion and a second reception
for masters and doctorate graduates will occur in the Ades Performance
Space. I hope you can attend this reception, as it is a nice way
for graduates, families, and friends to meet and congratulate one
another.
The Commencement Program
Graduation candidates are invited to check that their name is listed
correctly on the draft of the commencement program by visiting the
Office of Student and Residence Life between April 14th and April
18th, 2008.
Parking
Please remind your guests to arrive early to secure parking. On-street
street parking may be available on the side streets surrounding
Manhattan School of Music, especially on Riverside Drive, but since
it is a workday for many, on-street parking may be limited. Please
pay special attention to parking signs to ensure you or your guests
are not ticketed during the ceremony. Please refer to the list of
parking garages and lots in the area. For parking information, click
here.
Graduation Gifts and Diploma Frames
The Campus Store stocks a wide assortment of gifts as well as custom
diploma frames suitable for preserving the graduate’s hard-earned
certificate. The store’s graduation selection includes fine
picture frames, School blank note cards, key rings, letter openers,
coasters, pens, wine glasses, men’s and ladies’ watches,
as well as sweatshirts & T-shirts. Purchases prior to graduation
may be arranged by contacting Luis Plaza, Campus Store Manager,
at (917) 493-4031 or campus-store@msmnyc.edu.
The Campus Store is located just past Borden Auditorium, next to
the concert office.
Flowers:
If you would like to order from a local florist in advance of the
ceremony, Academy Floral Co. is located at 2780 Broadway, at the
cross streets of Broadway and 107th Street. They can be contacted
at www.academyfloral.com
or by emailing the owner at sal@academyfloral.com.
Embassy Florist is located at 2458 Broadway, at the cross streets
of Broadway and 91st Street, and may be reached at (212) 724-8604
or (212) 724-8253 or at www.embassyflowers.com.
For contact information about additional florists, please click
here.
Hotels and Directions
Please share the enclosed list of hotels and the travel directions
with all guests. For a list of hotels, please click
here. For travel directions, please click
here.
Things To Do In NYC
We have compiled a list of things to do in the city so you can
plan a weekend visit with your family and friends to make your graduation
weekend memorable. Please email Studentlife@msmnyc.edu to request
a copy of the list. In addition, please make every effort to attend
The American Musical Theater Ensemble performances of A Salute to
American Musical Theater, on Thursday, May 15, Friday, May 16, or
Saturday, May 17, at 7:30 p.m. in John C. Borden Auditorium. Carolyn
Marlow is the Director of the American Musical Theater Ensemble.
The performance is free and no tickets are required so you are encouraged
to arrive early.
Awards
Recognition of Students
This year’s graduates may be nominated for college and alumni
awards. Award recipients pick up their award certificates the week
of graduation as they pick up their academic attire.
For further information about the college awards and alumni awards,
please click here
to visit our Commencement Awards page.
Recognition of Faculty
The president’s medal for Distinguished Faculty Service is
the highest honor bestowed upon a Manhattan School of Music faculty
member by the president of the School. It is given occasionally
at commencement to faculty members who have demonstrated extraordinary
commitment to the School in the following areas:
- Longevity of teaching and service at the School
- Extraordinary pedagogical influence in the community
- Distinguished scholarship and research as demonstrated in performance,
composition, or publication
- Distinguished service to the institution as demonstrated by
humanistic activities outside of the teaching studio and classroom
Past Recipients of the President’s Medal for Distinguished
Faculty Service:
- Ludmila Ulehla
- Stanley Bednar
- Lucile Lawrence
- Ursula Mamlok
- Richard Elder Adams
- Leonard Davis
- Rosetta Goodkind
- Nathan Stutch
- David Noon
- Constance Colby
- Sylvia Rosenberg
- Justin DiCioccio
Honorary Doctorates
Honorary doctorates are awarded during the commencement ceremony.
The honorary doctorates for 2008 will be announced at a later date.
Congratulations, and Thank You!
Congratulations to all graduates! Thank you to all the family and
friends who have loved and supported our graduates.
Questions?
If you have any questions, please feel free to call Melanie Dorsey,
Assistant Director of Student Life, or Cathy Raynis Meeker, Director
of Student and Residence Life. Melanie Dorsey can be reached at
(917) 493-4588 or at mdorsey@msmnyc.edu
and Cathy can be reached at (917) 493-4457 or craynis@msmnyc.edu.
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