Fifty-five high school seniors filed into the school auditorium for NCSA's first school commencement on June 8, 1966 to hear Dr. Vittorio Giannini, the first president of the school charge the graduates with the responsibility of continuing their growth as artists. More than half were to return in the fall as college students. At the second commencement, in addition to the second high school class, bachelor of music degrees were presented to the college graduates. As the school's graduates left to fill the ranks of young professional performing artists, its commencement exercises were consistently both colorful and upbeat, with successful arts and arts-related professionals delivering the commencement addresses.
Many school performances from time to time use the resources of other schools, however the following groups may genuinely be considered all-school."Kaleidoscope" combined The Contemporary Performance Ensemble (faculty and young professionals from arts schools with guest artists under the direction of Chancellor Robert Suderburg) and artist/faculty chamber music presentations to feature both classical, contemporary, and experimental performances. From about 1976 to 1980, groups of students from all of the arts schools toured for five weeks each year, appearing in performances called "modules," which presented the school in capsule form. The modules covered 20-25 state schools per year, giving students touring experience and providing NCSA with a valuable recruiting tool. Programs from school musicals, and the Onyx Contemporary Ensemble (a unique outlet for original and experimental material at NCSA) are also included here.
This artificial collection contains several smaller categories of miscellaneous programs, including the annual student Awards Day convocation; the festive campus Beaux Arts Ball and celebration; visual arts exhibits; the installations of NCSA's chancellors (beginning with Dr. Robert Suderburg in 1974); honors convocations, including the awarding of honorary doctorates; memorial programs, including a commemorative service for Dr. Vittorio Giannini on December 1, 1966; miscellaneous convocations and programs, including the school's first convocation held on September 21, 1965; and programs for Parents' Weekend.
Dedication ceremonies play an important role in the physical and spiritual development of any school. They are special occasions for any institution, for they mark a new beginning through the expansion of an existing building,the creation of a new one, or the acquisition of a noteworthy gift. This collection reflects such developments - from the dedication of Crawford Hall in the old Gray High School building (named in honor of R.B. Crawford, Jr., fund raiser, president of the NCSA Foundation, Inc., and a major catalyst in campus development) on July 13, 1973, to the dedication of the massive Workplace complex (complete with dance, drama, music, and visual arts studios; library; faculty offices; and conference rooms) April 27-29, 1978.