{"id":26683,"date":"2025-04-09T09:51:11","date_gmt":"2025-04-09T14:51:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/takenote\/?p=26683"},"modified":"2025-10-29T16:30:30","modified_gmt":"2025-10-29T21:30:30","slug":"berklee-onlines-class-of-2025-celebrate-the-journey-and-embrace-the-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/takenote\/berklee-onlines-class-of-2025-celebrate-the-journey-and-embrace-the-future\/","title":{"rendered":"Berklee Online\u2019s Class of 2025: Celebrating the Journey and Embracing the Future"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-meet-five-graduates-whose-journeys-reflect-the-spirit-creativity-and-drive-of-berklee-online\">Meet Five Graduates Whose Journeys Reflect the Spirit, Creativity, and Drive of Berklee Online<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>On May 10, more than 200 members of Berklee Online\u2019s class of 2025 will come together in Boston to take part in this year\u2019s Commencement ceremony. This moment celebrates not only the completion of their bachelor\u2019s programs, but also the connections they\u2019ve built, the obstacles they\u2019ve overcome, and the music and meaning they\u2019ve created along the way. We\u2019re shining a spotlight on five standout graduates whose stories exemplify where determination can take you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-brielle-kimmins\">Brielle Kimmins<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/takenote\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/commencement_article_image_2025_brielle.jpg\" alt=\"Brielle Kimmins, aka AprilFoolChild, playing flute in a recording studio. \" class=\"wp-image-26689\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Brielle Kimmins, who performs under the name <a aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/aprilfoolchild\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">AprilFoolChild<\/a>, is a singer, songwriter, and flutist. She is graduating from Berklee Online with her bachelor\u2019s degree in <a aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/music-degrees\/graduate\/music-business?campaign_id=7010Z000001ZkQgQAK&amp;pid=&amp;utm_source=takenote&amp;tum_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=bol-gen-takenote-article-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Music Business<\/a>, after transferring in through the <a href=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/transfer-partner-schools#current-partner-schools\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Community College of Philadelphia<\/a> partnership program. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With deep Philadelphia roots, Brielle\u2019s path in music was shaped by several key people in her life: her father <a aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/philadelphia\/news\/local-community-friends-mourning-loss-of-beloved-activist-true-philadelphian-cb-kimmins\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">C.B. Kimmins<\/a>, a beloved activist and community figure; her uncle <a aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/EpuKgpLTq8E?si=bXSfGutrF40g8g3p\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Joe \u201cButterball\u201d Tamburro<\/a>, a prominent Philly radio DJ; and her legendary godmothers, Phyllis Hyman and Natalie Cole. Hyman passed away when Brielle was young, but she has fond memories of Natalie from her childhood.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cJust seeing her on stage, her elegance and her stage presence was really inspiring,\u201d says Brielle about her godmother Natalie Cole. \u201cI value that because there are so many sides to the music business.\u201d<\/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=\"Where Do We Go ( WDWG)\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/u7Hs1Xl7MRE?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\">AprilFoolChild\u2019s music video for her song &#8220;Where Do We Go (WDWG)&#8221;<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In her early twenties, Brielle participated in Berklee\u2019s <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/summer.berklee.edu\/programs\/aspire-five-week-music-performance-intensive?campaign_id=7010Z000001ZkQgQAK&amp;pid=&amp;utm_source=takenote&amp;tum_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=bol-gen-takenote-article-link\" target=\"_blank\">Aspire: Five-Week Music Performance Intensive<\/a>. She was planning to attend Berklee full-time on campus when she became pregnant with her son. This shifted Brielle\u2019s plans in a different direction, and she continued to pursue her music fiercely. After years of working in the music industry, she found her way to Berklee Online in pursuit of a career as an entertainment lawyer.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThere were certain decisions I made\u2014I signed a bad deal or played a session and didn\u2019t get credited,\u201d she says. \u201cI thought, I can be jaded, or I can do something different. I decided I wanted to be an entertainment lawyer so I could enjoy making music again. That\u2019s why I came back to Berklee.\u201d<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Commencement kicks off an exciting time for Brielle, who will be heading to London for a two-week legal fellowship. She plans to earn her JD\/MBA, combining legal and business skills to advocate for independent artists.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhat I\u2019m most proud of is just not giving up on myself and coming back after so many years; Not letting anything make me feel <strong>\u2018<\/strong>less than\u2019 and showing up to be able to graduate,\u201d says Brielle. <br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-hannes-mittermaier\">Hannes Mittermaier<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/takenote\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/commencement_article_image_2025_hannes.jpg\" alt=\"Hannes Mittermaier playing electric guitar\" class=\"wp-image-26690\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A graduate of Berklee Online\u2019s bachelor\u2019s in <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/music-degrees\/undergraduate\/guitar-performance?campaign_id=7010Z000001ZkQgQAK&amp;pid=&amp;utm_source=takenote&amp;tum_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=bol-gen-takenote-article-link\" target=\"_blank\">Guitar Performance<\/a>, Hannes Mittermaier will be traveling to Commencement in Boston from Munich, where he teaches at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lmu.de\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Ludwig Maximilian University (opens in a new tab)\">Ludwig Maximilian University<\/a>. In addition to completing his degree in guitar, Hannes also completed his PhD in philosophy. He says he has always shared a passion for deep thinkers and guitar rockers.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI always try to balance my music activities and my also very lonely activities,\u201d says <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hannes-mittermaier.de\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Hannes (opens in a new tab)\">Hannes<\/a>, who is from Brixen, Italy. \u201cIf you are writing a book, if you\u2019re sitting in front of a very difficult text, it&#8217;s a very isolated activity. I was really proud about sharing other things with music. Music is a social thing. Music is shared emotions. It\u2019s a good balance for my two souls living in this body.\u201d<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hannes recently made <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"headlines (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.unsertirol24.com\/2025\/01\/13\/quando-uomini-e-macchine-creano-arte\/\" target=\"_blank\">headlines<\/a> for rocking out with a robot named Hellga Tarr that is programmed to play guitar. It was created by engineer Markus Kolb from Berlin. Together, Hannes and Hellga dueted his original song \u201cTabula Rasa,\u201d which is named after a concept from John Locke about coming into the world as a blank slate. After writing and producing the song in his Berklee Online classes, Hannes thought that Hellga would add a deeper layer of meaning.&nbsp;<\/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=\"Hannes Mittermaier - Tabula Rasa (Official Music Video)\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JlUgDrsDTLg?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\">Hannes Mittermaier\u2019s music video for his song \u201cTabula Rasa,\u201d featuring the guitar-playing robot, Hellga Tarr.&nbsp;<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe main message is to be open to technology as much as you can, because technology was always part of music,\u201d says Hannes. \u201cIf you go back in music history, every piece of music was related to the technical opportunities they had.\u201d<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hannes plans to spend nine days in the Boston area during Commencement and has plans to meet his private lesson instructor <a href=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/instructors\/shaun-michaud?campaign_id=7010Z000001ZkQgQAK&amp;pid=&amp;utm_source=takenote&amp;tum_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=bol-gen-takenote-article-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">Sean Michaud<\/a>. Over the course of two years, they saw each other weekly for remote lessons, and they are finally meeting in person.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI&#8217;m just trying to understand this universal language we call music,\u201d says Hannes. \u201cThat&#8217;s probably the main thing I learned at Berklee, to see the similarities between each genre, to see how our guitar works theoretically to understand harmony, and to go even deeper into that.\u201d<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-olga-gonithellis\"><strong>Olga Gonithellis<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/takenote\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/commencement_article_image_2025_olga.jpg\" alt=\"Olga Gonithellis in her home studio\" class=\"wp-image-26691\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.olgacomposer.com\/#\/\" target=\"_blank\">Olga Gonithellis<\/a> is a mental health counselor and a singer, songwriter, and performer based in New York City. She is graduating with her bachelor\u2019s degree in <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/music-degrees\/undergraduate\/music-composition-for-film-tv-and-games?campaign_id=7010Z000001ZkQgQAK&amp;pid=&amp;utm_source=takenote&amp;tum_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=bol-gen-takenote-article-link\" target=\"_blank\">Music Composition for Film, TV, and Games<\/a>. She founded her own therapy practice, which specializes in working with artists and performers, authoring one of the few books on the topic: <em><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.routledge.com\/Counseling-for-Artists-Performers-and-Other-Creative-Individuals-A-Guide-For-Clinicians\/Gonithellis\/p\/book\/9781138735354?srsltid=AfmBOor4-JDqVv4f1s8IZzU1tOyRiunsbMOmPztRMTK_063WAtuPhHdz\" target=\"_blank\">Counseling for Artists, Performers, and Other Creative Individuals<\/a><\/em>. Now as a composer, she combines her talents in psychology and music to create emotionally resonant multimedia scores.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThere\u2019s something about being able to use musical tools to convey a feeling, an emotion, to try to understand what the director is thinking and feeling, and try to put that into musical language, that\u2019s so fascinating. It still feels like magic to me every time I do that.\u201d<\/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=\"Olga Gonithellis Film Scoring Reel (2024)\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/HddOY8S19uU?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\">A reel of projects that Olga Gonithellis has scored.&nbsp;<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Olga has found that her background in counseling has helped her persevere in the music industry.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSo much of my work has been helping clients with creativity blocks, performance anxiety, stress around the industry, erratic schedules, and also how to utilize certain feelings, like anxiety or depression, to deal with mental health difficulties creativity,\u201d she says. \u201cAs a composer, I have experienced firsthand what that\u2019s like; the discipline that you need to show up every day on your computer, opening your DAW.\u201d&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to her therapy practice, she has a freelance business where she has scored films, documentaries, and podcasts. In 2024, her music composition was nominated for best score at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.48hourfilm.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">48-Hour Film Project<\/a> in NYC, where she was challenged to score a short film called <em>The Dish<\/em> in less than two days.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Olga has a three-year-old son and a nine-year-old daughter who will both be joining her in Boston for Commencement.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI started the degree before the second kid was born and I didn\u2019t know if there was going to be a second or not,\u201d she says. \u201cBut I just kind of always thought in the back of my mind it will be so cool when one day I walk at Commencement and have my kid or kids be there cheering me on. Something about that visual was always very inspiring and kept me going.\u201d<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-evan-harr\">Evan Harr<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/takenote\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/commencement_article_image_2025_evan.jpg\" alt=\"Headshot of Evan Harr standing in a grassy field with a white fence behind him. \" class=\"wp-image-26692\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Up until a few years ago, Evan Harr was more likely to be found playing sports instead of playing music, but that all changed when he discovered music production. A member of the US Air Force Reserve, he was able to use his GI Bill to take advantage of Berklee Online\u2019s <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/military\/getting-started?campaign_id=7010Z000001ZkQgQAK&amp;pid=&amp;utm_source=takenote&amp;tum_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=bol-gen-takenote-article-link\" target=\"_blank\">military benefits<\/a>, graduating with his bachelor&#8217;s degree in <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/music-degrees\/undergraduate\/music-production?campaign_id=7010Z000001ZkQgQAK&amp;pid=&amp;utm_source=takenote&amp;tum_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=bol-gen-takenote-article-link\" target=\"_blank\">Music Production<\/a>.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI started just learning everything I could about music\u2014ear training, reading certain tabs, even doing a light piano class,\u201d says Evan, who is from California. \u201cBut what I was most interested in was the editing portion. I did classes on Pro Tools to get my certification. Mixing and mastering is where I really had so much fun.\u201d<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Evan found it was helpful to be new on the music scene because it motivated him to collaborate with other musicians in his program who could contribute their instruments and vocals to his projects. Working a full-time job in property management, he\u2019s enjoying producing original tracks with friends in his free time. However, he hopes to launch a mixing and mastering side business later this year.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSo many people record at home now, and I really want to offer help putting it all together,\u201d he says. \u201cUltimately you have to start your passion somewhere.\u201d<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-julia-pratt\"><strong>Julia Pratt<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/takenote\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/commencement_article_image_2025_julia-1.jpg\" alt=\"Julia Pratt onstage outside with an electric guitar\" class=\"wp-image-26701\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The last time we caught up with Julia Pratt in a <em>Take Note<\/em> <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/takenote\/julia-pratt-on-two-to-tango-going-for-her-degree-and-performing-with-brandi-carlile?campaign_id=7010Z000001ZkQgQAK&amp;pid=&amp;utm_source=takenote&amp;tum_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=bol-gen-takenote-article-link\" target=\"_blank\">interview from 2023<\/a>, she had recently received a grant from the <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.saltlickincubator.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">Salt Lick Incubator<\/a>, a nonprofit artist development organization founded by former Berklee President Roger Brown. Now a graduate of Berklee Online\u2019s <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/music-degrees\/graduate\/music-business?campaign_id=7010Z000001ZkQgQAK&amp;pid=&amp;utm_source=takenote&amp;tum_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=bol-gen-takenote-article-link\" target=\"_blank\">Music Business<\/a> bachelor\u2019s program, the project that she set out to create with the grant has come to fruition: Her <em><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/album\/3GwGPvsD2XJN0M9zAR8dJx?si=GHcPqjYFS3Onqb_T0ovB5A\" target=\"_blank\">Family Feud<\/a><\/em> EP and short film. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve always wanted to connect visuals to my music and through the Salt Lick grant, that was the first time I had the means to,\u201d says Julia. \u201cIt was rewarding to have a piece of visual art to accompany it, and check off that that dream bucket list item for me.\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-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Julia Pratt - Family Feud (Short Film)\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/0dw0KsEuQi8?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\">Julia Pratt\u2019s short film for her album <em>Family Feud<\/em>.&nbsp;<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Not only did she create a new EP, but she spent most of 2024 touring with acts such as <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Vancouver Sleep Clinic (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vancouversleepclinic.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">Vancouver Sleep Clinic<\/a>, <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Mipso (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mipsomusic.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Mipso<\/a>, <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Angie McMahon (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/angiemcmahon.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Angie McMahon<\/a>, <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Amos Lee (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amoslee.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Amos Lee<\/a>, <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"the Japanese House (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/thejapanesehouse.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\">the Japanese House<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/joyoladokun\/?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Joy Oladokun (opens in a new tab)\">Joy Oladokun<\/a>, and more.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201c2024 was just nonstop,\u201d she says. \u201cI\u2019d gigged before, but locally, and it was it wasn\u2019t very high stakes. And then all of a sudden, it was sometimes 2,000-, 3,000-capacity rooms. I had to adjust so it was definitely a learning curve. It was very busy, but it was also really fun.\u201d<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Following her eventful year of touring and graduating from Berklee Online, Julia is working on new music and says she\u2019s about to \u201ccome back with a bang.\u201d Her upcoming plans also include a songwriting retreat with other Salt Lick artists happening in Colorado this May.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cBerklee Online was the best thing I\u2019ve ever done academically,\u201d says Julia. \u201cIt\u2019s informed so many things that I\u2019m doing now, and so many things that I did over the last year and a half being on the road.\u201d <br><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On May 10, more than 200 members of Berklee Online\u2019s class of 2025 will come together in Boston to take part in this year\u2019s Commencement ceremony. This moment celebrates not only the completion of their bachelor\u2019s programs, but also the connections they\u2019ve built, the obstacles they\u2019ve overcome, and the music and meaning they\u2019ve created along the way. We\u2019re shining a spotlight on five standout graduates whose stories exemplify where determination can take you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":45,"featured_media":26702,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,9564,9560,32],"tags":[9471,9626,337,9627,9628,9277,9629],"class_list":["post-26683","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles","category-features-articles","category-spotlight","category-student-stories","tag-9471","tag-brielle-kimmins","tag-commencement","tag-evan-harr","tag-hannes-mittermaier","tag-julia-pratt","tag-olga-gonithellis"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v25.8 (Yoast SEO v25.8) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Berklee Online\u2019s Class of 2025: Celebrating the Journey and Embracing the 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