Messages for the CWRU Class of 2020

Photo of CWRU class of 2020 students

Help us celebrate the CWRU Class of 2020! Current students, faculty, staff, parents and alumni are all invited to send a message or record a special video for the Department of Music graduating class or for your favorite graduating Spartan (music majors, minors or ensemble members).

Messages, along with graduation/award announcements, will be shared here and on social media following commencement on May 20, 2020.

Department of Music Graduating Class

Don’t forget to follow the CWRU Department of Music FacebookCWRU Department of Music Instagram and CWRU Department of Music YouTube#CWRUGrad2020


We in the Department of Music are extremely proud of all of your musical and scholarly accomplishments at CWRU. We’re deeply disappointed that we weren’t able to share in many of your final concerts, recitals, and other performances, and even more so that we aren’t able to say goodbye and wish you well on campus and in person. But we applaud you for all you’ve done during your time here earning your BA, BS, MA, and PhD degrees. We wish you all the best in your future endeavors, and we hope you’ll keep in touch. Congratulations to all of you!!!

– David Rothenberg Chair, Department of Music

We may not be able to gather in person for commencement (yet), but that doesn’t diminish the great accomplishments of our graduates. We are sending our congratulations and best wishes to the Class of 2020!

– CWRU Music Staff

HUGE Congratulations to 2020 CWRU Music Grads!!!!

– Bethany Nickel, Graduate Student (Music Education, PhD)

Congratulations to all of our graduates with a special shoutout to all wind and percussion students (majors and nonmajors) with whom I have had the chance to have in class over the past four years. I look forward to hearing about each of your future endeavors and hope you’ll come visit us at Homecoming. Congratulations again to you all, you will be missed.

– Ryan Scherber, Director of Bands

Congratulations Joseph Picard and the graduates from the CWRU chamber music class. It has been such a pleasure to work with you and create beautiful music. I have learned much from your resilience and focus during an incredibly disrupted semester. Thank you for those lessons! It is time for celebration and some rest. Next, on to your new exciting opportunities. Keep making beautiful music! View a video greeting from Cynthia Watson.

– Cynthia Watson, Oboe and Chamber Music Instructor (Cleveland Institute of Music)

To our graduating music students: I offer my heartfelt congratulations and gratitude for your presence in our program these past several years. You and your talents, enthusiasm, and dedication are what motivate the faculty and staff to come to work every day. In particular, to the undergraduate music majors who have been involved in the department these past four years: I wish you my very best as you go from CWRU on to new endeavors. I will remember you all fondly and miss you, but look forward to hearing great things about your future. I only wish I could have been there these past several weeks to share the joy of your accomplishments in person. Please don’t forget about us here in the music department, and no matter what, keep music as an integral part of your life! Aut viam inveniam aut faciam.

– Eric Charnofsky, Instructor | Coordinator of Undergraduate Enrollment and Undergraduate Studies

Congratulations, class of 2020! We are so proud of you. Have fun celebrating your great successes! View a video greeting from Lisa Koops.

Photo of Lisa Koops

– Lisa Koops, Professor | Head of Music Education | Coordinator of Graduate Studies in Music Education


University News

Celebrating the Class of 2020: Members of the community share their messages for this year’s graduates

Photo of graduation caps

Watch: From orientation to commencement, the Class of 2020 reflects on their CWRU experience

Photo of the CWRU Class of 2022

Commencement: Details and online ceremonies.