Graduation Celebrations in Photos: A Snapshot of the 2024 Commencement Ceremony
The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music celebrated the achievements of its graduating scholars, composers, and musicians during its 2024 commencement ceremony on June 14, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. in the Ackerman Ballroom. The event was a testament to the resilience and determination of the graduates, many of whom had never had a high school graduation due to pandemic cancellations, as acknowledged by Eileen Strempel, the inaugural dean of the school.
The ceremony was filled with music, starting with a processional performed by the UCLA Commencement Brass Ensemble and the West African Drum Ensemble. The Mariachi de Uclatlán led the recessional, setting a celebratory mood throughout the event. The School of Music's signature live music continued during the ceremony, providing a fitting backdrop to the honouring of every graduate of The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music.
Dean Strempel welcomed the attendees, expressing her excitement for the future of the school and looking forward to hearing from the 2024 graduates. She also introduced the keynote speaker, Jake Heggie, a prolific and respected composer of opera and art songs in the 21st century.
Jake Heggie, who completed his bachelor's in piano performance from UCLA forty years ago but was unable to attend the graduation, shared his journey since leaving the university. He credited music for saving him multiple times in his life, particularly during the aftermath of his father's suicide when he was 10 years old. His difficult path led him to a gig in the PR department of the San Francisco Opera, where he began writing music again and was eventually commissioned to write his first opera, Dead Man Walking. Heggie spoke openly about his struggle with focal dystonia and his temporary career as a copywriter.
Robby Good, the graduate speaker, spoke about the importance of musical community and finding opportunities and collaborations during his six years at UCLA. Ashley Dao, the undergraduate student speaker, spoke about music's reparative potential and the hard work scholars and artists do to create communities devoted to beauty and healing.
The ceremony honoured every graduate of The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, with dean's medals being awarded and latin honours being read. Quoting Tolstoy, Strempel said "to be happy, you must first believe in the possibility of happiness." The ballroom was filled to capacity as the candidates for graduation made their way to their seats at the front of the stage.
The ceremony's commencement webpage can be accessed for photographs and program book viewing. The event concluded with the School of Music's signature live music and the graduates exiting the ballroom to the sound of the Mariachi de Uclatlán's recessional. The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music looks forward to sharing more alumni stories to inspire future graduates.
[1] "Jake Heggie." Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 15 Mar. 2022,
Jake Heggie, a prolific and respected composer, emphasized the transformative power of music in his life, particularly during challenging times such as the aftermath of his father's suicide, and credited it for saving him multiple times. Ashley Dao, the undergraduate student speaker, highlighted the reparative potential of music and the dedication of scholars and artists in creating communities focused on beauty and healing.
