On May 7, 2007, the Department of Recorded Music celebrated its 1st graduating class at Madison Square Gardens in New York City.
Department of Recorded Music's graduating class of 2007:
From l-to-r, 1st row- Evan Moore, Rob Inadomi, Josh Silberberg, Brandon Maragh, Matt DeMayo; 2nd row-Calpin Hoffman-Williamson, Eric Lumiere, Jen Newman, Julia Wilde, Jennifer Rock, Tom Schecter; 3rd row-Eren Cannata, Jonathan Friedman, Drew Hinshaw, Marissa Bregman, Jacob Freeman, Luke Taylor; 4th row- Bo Pericic, Matt Weinberg, Tracey Cole, Danny Arango, Allan Fox; Not pictured- Rebecca Krouse, Allison Kruth, Carter Matschullat, Brooke Roop, Mario Spinetti
Tisch Salute – Class of 2007
Speech by Jim Anderson, May 7, 2007
Madison Square Garden
It is written that the first shall be last and the last shall be first.
As you see, we are last and that’s because we are the youngest department at Tisch.
Now, I tell you we are first, because I have the honor to ask for the first time:
Would the Class of 2007 of the Clive Davis Department of Recorded Music please rise?
Congratulations!
Unique is a word that’s used, these days, without much serious thought of its meaning.
I’m unique, you’re unique, Laurie Anderson is unique...everyone’s unique.
But collectively, and individually, I consider you, the Class of 2007, to be uniquely unique.
You’ve had a unique four years.
You’ve had a unique experience that no one else will ever have. You’re pioneers.
I want you to think back on how far you’ve come.
Before 2003 will be considered the dark days at Tisch. “BC” they’ll call it, “Before Clive”.
Think.
In the fall of 2003, the iTunes Music store was only 6 months old, wardrobes didn’t malfunction, and no one had ever
heard of a Brangelina.
Think.
In the fall of 2003, how did you ever exist without Podcasts, You Tube, and Facebook?
Think.
Since 2003, you’ve searched and found your unique voice in producing and recording...
maneuvered your way through your internships and pitched your Capstone Projects.
We’ve watched you work, and work hard, to create your unique identity.
We’ve had the privilege to watch you grow and blossom in your performing,
your singing...
your songwriting...
You’ve created projects and plans that will uniquely rock and roll the music industry.
You’ve made the bonds and creative friendships that will help you and last a lifetime.
Wherever you go, whatever you do,
I know you’ll each make a unique difference...
a unique contribution.
I’d like to call each of you an “agent of change,” but then that would mean you’d be working in real estate.
And now, here you are.
You’re the first in the country to receive this unique education...
the first in the world to receive this unique degree.
To me, you’ll always be special...
one of a kind...
different from all others in a significant way...
in other words: you’re unique.
Allow me to close with a line from a song that I feel is appropriate. Your parents would remember this as sung by Bob
Hope and you would know Rod Stewart’s version. It’s from “Thanks for the Memory.” The lyric goes: “Thanks for the
memory. Of sunburns at the shore, nights in Singapore. You might have been a headache, but you never were a bore.”
You’re the class of 2007, the first graduating class of the Clive Davis Department of Recorded Music.
Congratulations!
