{"id":14466,"date":"2020-05-21T10:58:42","date_gmt":"2020-05-21T15:58:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/takenote\/?p=14466"},"modified":"2026-01-20T17:14:00","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T22:14:00","slug":"berklee-online-graduation-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/takenote\/berklee-online-graduation-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"Berklee Online\u2019s Class of 2020 Celebrate Commencement from Their Own Spaces"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-virtual-commencement-highlights-how-berklee-online-graduates-adapt-and-launch-music-careers-remotely\">Virtual Commencement Highlights How Berklee Online Graduates Adapt and Launch Music Careers Remotely<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The second weekend of May 2020 marked two big milestones for Carrie Lane Pearlman: her first Mother\u2019s Day as a mother, and her graduation from Berklee College of Music. Pearlman, who earned her bachelor\u2019s degree in music business through Berklee Online, spent the day with her husband and newborn son at their home in Verona, New Jersey, watching the ceremony from their living room in full Commencement regalia, pictured below. As a singer\/songwriter, model, and advocate for people with chronic illnesses, Pearlman\u2019s Berklee Online years overlapped with several intense life moments, especially during the pandemic.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1507\" height=\"1721\" data-id=\"14493\" src=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/takenote\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/image1-1.jpeg\" alt=\"Berklee Online graduate Carrie Lane Pearlman watches the John Legend Tribute with her newborn son during the virtual Commencement concert.\" class=\"wp-image-14493\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2016\" height=\"1512\" data-id=\"14494\" src=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/takenote\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/image7.jpeg\" alt=\"Berklee Online graduate Carrie Lane Pearlman throwing her cap in front of a blossoming tree.  \" class=\"wp-image-14494\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2016\" height=\"1512\" data-id=\"14495\" src=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/takenote\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/image0.jpeg\" alt=\"Berklee Online graduate Carrie Lane Pearlman watches the Commencement ceremony with her newborn son. \" class=\"wp-image-14495\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cDuring my time at Berklee I was able to learn so much about advancing my craft while moving across the country, getting married, facing a life-changing illness, enduring a high-risk pregnancy, and having a healthy baby boy,\u201d she says.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The illness she speaks of is type 1 diabetes, which meant her pregnancy was more at-risk than most, but thankfully, everything turned out well. \u201cIt was such a special weekend to enjoy graduation and my first Mother\u2019s Day as just the three of us,\u201d she says. <br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.officialcarrielane.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Pearlman (opens in a new tab)\">Pearlman<\/a> was one of hundreds of Berklee Online students who tuned in for a weekend of remote Commencement festivities, from a virtual concert celebrating honorary doctorates John Legend, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Andr\u00e9 De Shields, Sheila E., and Cassandra Wilson, to the Commencement ceremony. Although the coronavirus pandemic prevented the class of 2020 from experiencing the in-person sendoff in Boston, these graduates are resilient and adaptable. They celebrated the same way that they achieved their degrees: by logging in and showing up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Berklee Virtual Commencement Concert (Complete Concert)\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/fUw4AAIXDSA?start=1&#038;feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><br>&nbsp;Watch Berklee\u2019s virtual 2020 commencement concert in its entirety.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Not only did Ryan Harris, a Music Business\/Management Berklee Online graduate, watch the Commencement concert from his home in Maryland, but he got to take part in it, virtually singing alongside John Legend during his tribute. Harris graduated after an eight-year journey with Berklee, that began as a campus student with his twin brother, and ended as an online student. <br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1431\" height=\"1243\" src=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/takenote\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Ryan_Harris_2020-2.jpg\" alt=\"Ryan Harris celebrates Berklee Commencement. \" class=\"wp-image-14500\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMy twin brother attended Berklee with me and we had an awesome time,\u201d says Harris about attending the Berklee campus in Boston. \u201cHowever, when we considered the financial cost of the two of us returning together, even with my scholarships, the outcome was not as favorable as we thought. For two years we took classes at other institutions while trying to navigate a path forward.\u201d<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That path forward was the <a href=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/degrees\/about\/undergraduate-degree-completion?campaign_id=7010Z000001ZkQgQAK&amp;pid=&amp;utm_source=takenote&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=bol-gen-takenote-link-from-article\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">degree completion<\/a> program through Berklee Online that allowed Harris and his brother to continue their coursework.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1521\" height=\"1239\" src=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/takenote\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Ryan_Harris_and_John_Legend.jpg\" alt=\"Harris, a Music Business\/Management graduate of Berklee Online, sings lead vocals in John Legend's tribute at the virtual Commencement concert. \" class=\"wp-image-14469\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Harris, a Music Business\/Management graduate of Berklee Online, sings lead vocals in John Legend&#8217;s tribute at the virtual Commencement concert. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cFrom my first semester at the Boston campus, it was my goal to perform in the Commencement concert,&#8221; says Harris. &#8220;After transitioning to Berklee Online, I didn\u2019t think it was possible. I was humbled, honored, and grateful after being selected as lead vocalist for the John Legend tribute.\u201d <br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In Des Moines, Iowa, Allegra Hernandez watched the ceremony with their mom, while other family members tuned in from across the country. Hernandez earned their degree in Interdisciplinary Music Studies, with a focus in guitar, music business, and production. They transferred to Berklee Online when their previous college, McNally Smith College of Music, closed in 2017.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2247\" height=\"2753\" data-id=\"14481\" src=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/takenote\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Allegra_Hernandez-1.jpg\" alt=\"Allegra Hernandez celebrates Berklee Commencement from Des Moines, Iowa.\" class=\"wp-image-14481\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2100\" height=\"2800\" data-id=\"14482\" src=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/takenote\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Allegra_Hernandez_2020-2.jpg\" alt=\"Allegra Hernandez watches the virtual commencement ceremony on their laptop. \" class=\"wp-image-14482\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI felt inspired that I could learn from world-class musicians even though I was learning from home,\u201d says Hernandez, pictured above. \u201cInitially, when I transferred, coming from an on-campus program, I didn\u2019t think I would have the ability to form these strong connections. But I learned that all of the students and professors are very motivated and really do want to connect with you.\u201d <br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In August, Hernandez will start a new position as a studio director for a recording studio that is entirely owned and operated by women and non-binary people. In fact, it\u2019s the second recording studio of its kind in the US. <br><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI learned so much and was able to apply it directly to my current work as a musician,\u201d says Hernandez. \u201cAll in all, I am proud of how self-sufficient and self-motivated I became not only as a student, but also personally and professionally.\u201d<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/karennaifehharmon.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">Karen Naifeh Harmon<\/a> took what she learned at Berklee Online, and also applied it directly to her current work as a composer and conductor. Since she started at Berklee Online, Harmon has had three world premieres of her compositions. Harmon spent graduation weekend with her family at her mom\u2019s ranch near Tulsa, Oklahoma (see below). <br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"3088\" height=\"1906\" src=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/takenote\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Karen-and-family-Friday-concert-copy.jpg\" alt=\"Karen Naifeh Harmon celebrated her Berklee Commencement from her mom's ranch near Tulsa, Oklahoma. From left to right: Harmon, her sister Jamie, her husband Nathan, and daughter Lexy. \" class=\"wp-image-14483\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt was very fitting, as my mom was my inspiration to go for a music degree,\u201d says Harmon. \u201cMom was 50 when she received her Violin Performance degree from the University of Tulsa. I am 51 and receiving my degree in Music Composition for Film, TV, and Games from Berklee College of Music. The whole weekend was wonderful.\u201d<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Harmon is currently writing a concerto for a cellist in the Tulsa Symphony Orchestra. She\u2019s also teaching Irish fiddling and film and video game music composition at her private studio.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI really owe a lot to D.J. Sparr and <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/faculty\/phillip-sheeran?campaign_id=7010Z000001ZkQgQAK&amp;pid=&amp;utm_source=takenote&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=bol-gen-takenote-link-from-article\" target=\"_blank\">Phillip Sheeran<\/a> for inspiring me in my orchestration classes,\u201d says Harmon. \u201cI also owe a lot to my<em> <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/courses\/interactive-scoring-for-games?campaign_id=7010Z000001ZkQgQAK&amp;pid=&amp;utm_source=takenote&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=bol-gen-takenote-link-from-article\" target=\"_blank\">Interactive Scoring for Games<\/a> <\/em>teacher, <a href=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/takenote\/how-to-price-your-music-composition-work-in-the-video-gaming-industry\/?campaign_id=7010Z000001ZkQgQAK&amp;pid=&amp;utm_source=takenote&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=bol-gen-takenote-link-from-article\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">Michael Sweet<\/a>. He is an incredible teacher and he gave me great advice on how to make it as a musician, especially with what the world is going through right now.\u201d<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Ray Charles - Hit the Road Jack on Saturday Live 1996\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/CyVuYAHiZb8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Regina Brown-Ross performing &#8220;Hit the Road Jack&#8221; with Ray Charles in 1996. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In many ways, Regina Brown-Ross has already made it as a musician, after being in the business for more than 30 years, performing with such greats as Ray Charles, Smokey Robinson, and Gladys Knight. But after long-term exposure to pollution from living in China took a toll on her vocal health, Brown-Ross decided to earn her music business degree through Berklee Online, while her vocal cords recovered. <br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"749\" height=\"581\" data-id=\"14485\" src=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/takenote\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Regina_Brown_Ross_Ray_Charles.jpeg\" alt=\"Regina Brown-Ross and Ray Charles.\" class=\"wp-image-14485\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Ray Charles<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1105\" data-id=\"14475\" src=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/takenote\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Regina_Brown_Ross_Smokey.jpg\" alt=\"Regina Brown-Ross and Smokey Robinson\" class=\"wp-image-14475\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Smokey Robinson<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"515\" height=\"342\" data-id=\"14488\" src=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/takenote\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Regina_Brown_Ross_Knight.jpeg\" alt=\"Regina Brown-Ross and Gladys Knight.\" class=\"wp-image-14488\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Gladys Knight<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"974\" height=\"974\" data-id=\"14489\" src=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/takenote\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/D46F5E26-A0C6-4115-BFAB-770AA49F37F6-1.jpeg\" alt=\"Regina Brown-Ross in her cap and gown.\" class=\"wp-image-14489\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Brown-Ross celebrates her Berklee Commencement from her home in Las Vegas. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cBerklee has kept me connected to the music and helped rebuild my confidence as I continue to rehabilitate my voice,\u201d says Brown-Ross. \u201cI am so very proud to be on the other side and to have accomplished my goal.\u201d<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although Brown-Ross and all of the Berklee Online graduates are emerging into a music industry with many unknowns, they\u2019re well-equipped to improvise and adapt their music to the digital realm. They\u2019re developing apps (Pearlman), starting podcasts (Harris), releasing EPs (Hernandez), composing (Harmon), and procuring sync placements for their music (Brown-Ross). A pandemic couldn\u2019t stop them from celebrating all that they\u2019ve accomplished, and if there\u2019s anyone who\u2019s ready for a virtual musical landscape, it\u2019s Berklee Online\u2019s class of 2020.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe must be open to diversification, possibilities, and new ways of accomplishing our goals in this new world environment,\u201d says Brown-Ross. <br><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Berklee Online&#8217;s graduating class of 2020 share stories of resiliency and celebrating virtual Commencement from their own spaces during the coronavirus pandemic.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":45,"featured_media":14491,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,9560,32],"tags":[7232,169,172,175,7233,7234,6921,7225,599,749,6680,7230,7229,6282,975,7227,6954,6914,6957,7228,1186,7231,6772,1370],"class_list":["post-14466","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles","category-spotlight","category-student-stories","tag-andre-de-shields","tag-berklee-college-of-music","tag-berklee-online","tag-berklee-online-commencement","tag-cassandra-wilson","tag-class-of-2020","tag-coronavirus","tag-gladys-knight","tag-graduation","tag-john-legend","tag-michael-sweet","tag-mikhail-baryshnikov","tag-music-business-degree","tag-music-composition-for-film","tag-music-composition-for-tv","tag-music-composition-for-video-games","tag-online-bachelors-degree","tag-online-master-of-music-degree","tag-pandemic","tag-phillip-sheeran","tag-ray-charles","tag-sheila-e","tag-smokey-robinson","tag-study-online"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- 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