University-wide Commencement and School of Music Convocation Ceremonies
School of Music Convocation, Sunday, May 17, 2026, 1 p.m. start time
The School of Music hosts a schoolwide ceremony in May to recognize students earning a bachelor’s, master’s, artist diploma, and doctoral degrees. Please note that to participate in our ceremony, all participating students MUST wear a cap and gown.
If you would like to participate in the School of Music Convocation ceremony, please complete our registration form, which is separate from the Commencement registration form. Our registration form will be available on this website in early February.
Please watch this video on how to wear your regalia properly: https://go.illinois.edu/wearingregalia.
Undergraduate Students
Please arrive at Smith Memorial Hall dressed in your regalia (cap and gown). The tassel should be on the left front quadrant of your mortarboard. Please leave all personal items with your family or friends attending the ceremony; there will be no place to store them. Please check in with Rebecca Spennetta on the second floor of Smith Memorial Hall at 12:30 p.m. Rebecca Spennetta will hand you a card containing your name to add pronunciation tips or phonetic spelling if necessary. You will line up along the hallway in degree and number order based on your name card. Family and friends should not come upstairs; they should take their seats in the Recital Hall beginning at 12:30 p.m. Please be on time!
Graduate Students
Please arrive at Smith Memorial Hall dressed in your regalia (cap, gown, and hood—master’s and artist diploma students only). The tassel should be on the left front quadrant of your mortarboard. Please leave all personal items with your family or friends attending the ceremony; there will be no place to store them. Please check in with Jenny Phillips on the second floor of Smith Memorial Hall, starting at 12:30 p.m. Jenny Phillips will hand you a card containing your name, to which you can add pronunciation tips or phonetic spelling if necessary. You will line up along the hallway in degree and number order based on your name card. Family and friends should not come upstairs; they should take their seats in the Recital Hall beginning at 12:00 p.m. Please be on time!
Doctoral students only: Your hood should not be attached; please drape it over your left arm. You will give the designated faculty your hood for the hooding ceremony when you approach the stage.
Parking
Street parking will be available on all campus lots, streets, and parking garages. Please plan to arrive early on campus, as many ceremonies will take place that day, and you should expect traffic.
Tickets
Tickets are not required for this event; however, seating is limited. We ask that each graduate bring no more than four guests. Guest seating will begin at 12:00 p.m.
Recording
A recording will be posted to our website within 1–2 days after the ceremony.
Pictures
Memory Lane Photography will photograph the ceremony.
University-wide Commencement Ceremony
Registration is required for the university-wide Commencement Ceremony, which is a separate event from the School of Music Convocation ceremony.
Saturday, May 16, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. at Memorial Stadium
For more information about the university-wide ceremony and ticket information, visit https://commencement.illinois.edu/may-commencement/.
For questions related to undergraduate eligibility: FAA Undergraduate Academic Affairs: contact faa-uaa@illinois.edu
For questions about graduate student eligibility and convocation, contact Jenny Phillips, SoM Academic Affairs.