Dear Class of 2020

Dear Class of 2020
Created by
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producersGuy Carrington
Brian Cavallaro
Melanie Fletcher
Kim Gamble
David Jammy
Kristen Wong
ProducersRaj Kapoor
Meghan Kerns
Roisin Moloney
Augie Max Vargas
Vanessa Ashton
Production locationVirtual
EditorsMike Polito
Buzz Chapman
James Collett
Chester Contaoi
Japeth Crawford
Josh Cregg
Sharon Everett
Enrique Gutierrez
Dan Morita
Dan Olsen
Tim Perniciaro
Tim Schultz
Running time274 minutes
Production companyDone and Dusted
Original release
NetworkYouTube
ReleaseJune 7, 2020 (2020-06-07)

Dear Class of 2020 was a 2020 online event streamed live on June 7, 2020 on YouTube. It was a virtual commencement event that features speeches and performances from prominent personalities aimed at graduating students of all levels whose actual ceremonies were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event also highlighted the George Floyd protest following the murders of George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery, and the shooting of Breonna Taylor. Originally scheduled on June 6, the event was rescheduled the day after to avoid clashing with the memorial service for George Floyd held on that date in Raeford, North Carolina.

Appearances

Commencement speakers

YouTube creators

Words of encouragement

Performers

Artist(s) Song(s)
Lizzo
New York Philharmonic		 "Pomp and Circumstance"
AMDA College of the Performing Arts Choir
Diamond Bar High School Marching Band		 "There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back"
Tracee Ellis Ross
Yara Shahidi
Kelly Rowland
Shonda Rhimes
Janelle Monáe
Madison Calley (on harp)
Misty Copeland and Naya Lovell (dance)		 "Still I Rise"
(Maya Angelou poem recital)
Noah Cyrus
Tove Lo
Ty Dolla Sign
Khalid
Leon Bridges
Camila Cabello
Ben Platt
Cynthia Erivo
Chris Martin		 "Beautiful Day"
Alicia Keys "Underdog"
Mariah Carey
The cast of Schitt's Creek
Catherine O'Hara as Moira Rose
Eugene Levy as Johnny Rose
Dan Levy as David Rose
Annie Murphy as Alexis Rose
Noah Reid as Patrick Brewer
Emily Hampshire as Stevie Budd
Karen Robinson as Veronica "Ronnie" Lee
Sarah Levy as Twyla Sands
Jenn Robertson as Jocelyn Schitt
Rizwan Manji as Ray Butani
 "Hero"
Maluma "ADMV"
Chris Pine
John Cho		 "Graduation Day"
Mark Hamill
Daisy Ridley		 Oh, the Places You'll Go!
(Dr. Seuss book excerpt reading)
Chloe x Halle "Do It"
Katy Perry "Daisies"
"Firework"
Megan Thee Stallion "Big Ole Freak"
"Hot Girl Summer"
"Captain Hook"
"Cash Shit"
"Savage"
CNCO "Honey Boo"
"Hey DJ"
"Reggaetón Lento (Bailemos)"
BTS "Boy with Luv"
"Spring Day"
"Mikrokosmos"
(Performed at the National Museum of Korea in Seoul)

Notes

  1. ↑ segment directed by Finneas O'Connell

References

  1. ↑ Hills, Megan C. (June 9, 2020). "YouTube's Dear Class of 2020 highlights: From Michelle Obama to Beyonce and BTS". Evening Standard. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  2. ↑ Petski, Denise (June 7, 2020). "YouTube Reschedules Virtual Commencement Ceremony With The Obamas, Beyoncé Due To George Floyd Memorial Service – Watch". Deadline. Retrieved June 11, 2020.