Commencement Returning to Kleinhans in 2022

By | February 1, 2022

Daemen’s commencement, 2019

For the first time since 2019, Daemen’s commencement ceremonies will be held at Kleinhans Music Hall. 

As in years past, both the undergraduate and graduate ceremonies will feature the Grammy Award-winning Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus.

Byron Brown, recently elected to an unprecedented fifth term as mayor of Buffalo, will serve as commencement speaker for the undergraduate ceremony. The graduate ceremony speaker will be announced in the near future. 

“Commencement at Kleinhans has long been one of Daemen’s great traditions – and has been enjoyed by thousands of alums and their families over the years,” said Gary Olson, president of Daemen. 

“We look forward to once again honoring our graduates at one of the country’s great concert halls, in Buffalo’s historic Symphony Circle, and hearing from the city’s longest-serving mayor in its history,” he said. 

A Daemen graduate outside Kleinhans in 2019

Olson added, “We’re also thrilled to welcome the return of the Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus – its performances have always made our commencements memorable and special occasions.”

The 2022 undergraduate ceremony will take place Saturday, May 21 at noon, with the graduate ceremony following at 4:30 p.m.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Daemen’s graduation ceremonies were held virtually in 2020. 

Last year, the college held six smaller ceremonies in Lumsden Gymnasium – the first on-campus commencement since 1957 – to accommodate in-person attendance. However, returning to Kleinhans will allow more families and friends to attend. 

More information will soon be available at Daemen.edu/commencement, including details regarding ticketing and COVID-19-related protocols.