A student from Irvine has been selected to perform during an hour-long tribute to graduating seniors that will air across four television networks and stream online this Saturday, May 16.
Bethany Huang, a pianist who attends Northwood High School in the Irvine Unified School District, will appear in “Graduate Together: America Honors the High School Class of 2020,” set to air at 8 p.m. local time on ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX and a number of websites.
Organized by the XQ Institute, the LeBron James Family Foundation and the Entertainment Industry Foundation, “Graduate Together” will provide some virtual pomp and circumstance for students whose graduation ceremonies have been postponed or altered because of the pandemic.
The show is expected to feature inspirational words and music from some pretty big names, including LeBron James, former President Barack Obama, Pharrell Williams, Malala Yousafzai, the Jonas Brothers, Bad Bunny, Yara Shahidi, Ben Platt, Lena Waithe and H.E.R.
Bethany, who will attend UCI and hopes to double-major in music and international studies, said she was contacted by the casting company after recently being named an Orange County Register Artist of the Year semi-finalist.
Bethany has played the piano since she was 6, and she credits Sierra Vista music teacher Henry Miller for making music “such a memorable and fun experience.” She also expressed gratitude to Northwood teachers Ben Case and Whitney Tavlarides for guiding her and shaping her as a musician.
“My teachers have always been so supportive throughout my entire music journey and have motivated me to pursue piano in college as well,” she said.
#GraduateTogether is inviting students, educators and families to submit their own videos and photos for the broadcast, including portraits of high school seniors that can be used to create a national virtual yearbook.
For more information, visit graduatetogether2020.com.