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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 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 2010 was given to students in February 2010. Parents and friends of graduates, please click here for a letter from the Office of Student and Residence Life. 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 84rd Commencement, to be held on Friday, May 14, 2010, at the Riverside Church, 490 Riverside Drive, New York City, at 2:00 p.m. (For directions to Manhattan School and 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 4, 2010, from 12:00 until 3:30 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
  • 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 4 tickets for guests by completing the Commencement Participation Form by Friday, March 26, 2010. 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, Associate 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 19, 2010, and Friday, April 30, 2010 to ensure that all guests receive tickets prior to the day of the ceremony. Graduate candidates are responsible for picking up their tickets by April 30, 2010 and distributing them to their guests. Tickets not picked up by April 30, 2010, will be made available to other graduate candidates on May 10, 2010 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 26, 2010.

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 4 and March 26, 2010. Those who order and or measure for academic attire after March 26, 2010, 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 26, 2010, 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 11–13, 2010, 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 17, 2010 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 can be reached at www.jostens.com or 1-800- 854-7464 between 7:00 a.m. and 4:00 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 11:00 a.m. on Friday, May 14, 2010, to pose for individual photos in the Assembly Hall of the Riverside Church. The portraits will be taken from 11:00 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 13, 2010, in Ades Performance Space. 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 12:00 p.m. Dignitaries are welcome to dress in their academic attire at the social before proceeding to Christ Chapel of the Riverside Church at 1:15 p.m.

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 26, 2010. 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.

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 1:30 p.m. for ticketed guests with mobility impairments or other special needs. All other guests with tickets will be seated at approximately 1:35 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 1:45 p.m. Late seating is not guaranteed and 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 19th and April 23rd, 2010.

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 list of hotels and the travel directions with all guests. For a list of hotels, please click here. For travel directions, please click here.

Please remind your guests to arrive early to secure parking.  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. 

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.

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 2010 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, Associate Director of Student Life. Melanie can be reached at (917) 493-4588 or at mdorsey@msmnyc.edu.