Commencement and Convocation

Information for graduating students wishing to participate in the university-wide Commencement and School of Music Convocation ceremonies held each May.

 

Commencement and Convocation

School of Music Convocation, Sunday, May 18, 2025, 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, or doctoral degree. Please note that to participate in our ceremony, all participating students must wear a cap and gown. 

Please watch this video on how to wear your regalia properly: https://go.illinois.edu/wearingregalia. 

The photographer will set up for pictures in the Memorial Room, second floor of Smith Memorial Hall, at 12:15. Please arrive early to take a photo in your cap and gown before the ceremony.

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 12:30 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 because many ceremonies will happen 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. This year’s ceremony will be live-streamed for guests who cannot attend. Guest seating will begin at 12:30 p.m.

Live Stream

Live Stream Link: https://www.youtube.com/illinoismusic 

Pictures

Memory Lane Photography will take photos of the ceremony.

Reception

Immediately following our ceremony, we invite you to attend a small reception honoring all graduates in the north lobby of the Music Building. The reception will be an excellent time to get pictures with faculty, mingle with friends, and have refreshments.

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University-wide Commencement Ceremony

Saturday, May 17, 2025, 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 eligibility and convocation, contact Jenny PhillipsSoM Academic Affairs.

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