Congratulations Class of 2015!

This past weekend, CIM was filled with excitement, ceremony and cap-and-gown-clad new graduates. In case you missed the festivities, the 2015 CIM Conservatory Commencement Ceremony can be viewed in its entirety here. Click to see this year’s dignitaries receive honors and awards, musical performances by student artists and the keynote address from the great American composer Gunther Schuller.

A special highlight of the weekend was Schuller’s commencement speech, in which he spoke about the importance of "art, invention, creation and discovery," adding that all of these are "eternal." He also imparted on the class of 2015, the importance of "integrity, as much as possible, with a minimum of compromise." Schuller spoke of the importance of "the 'us' and the 'we' rather than the 'me.'"

He closed with the words of Gloria Steinem, who stated in a 1987 Commencement Address of her own, "This is the last period of time that will seem lengthy to you and too protected. But from now on, time will pass without artificial academic measure. Time will go by like the wind, and then time is suddenly gone."

Congratulations to all of our students turned brand-new alums!

Photo: Steven Mastroianni