Berklee Honors Jacob Collier, Jill Scott, and Vinnie Colaiuta at 2026 Commencement

Berklee College of Music honored a trio of Grammy winners at its 2026 commencement ceremony at Agganis Arena on Saturday, May 9. President Jim Lucchese and Interim Provost Ron Savage presented honorary doctorates to multi-instrumentalist and producer Jacob Collier, singer-songwriter and actress Jill Scott, and drummer Vinnie Colaiuta ’75. This year’s graduating class comprised 1,476 students from all 50 US states and 60 countries.

Collier, a seven-time Grammy winner known for his joyous and genre-bridging music, was recognized for his ability to push the boundaries of what’s possible and inspire people around the world. He encouraged graduates to trust those close to them, and to invest in the success of their fellow artists, a crucial part of finding one’s own artistic voice.

“I truly believe you are only as powerful as you make the people around you feel,” said Collier. “It is an unprecedented time to be a human, to be a musician, and the only thing we can do is trust each other. It’s the radical thing we can do to open ourselves up to vulnerability and the beauty that music provides to us as people, as communities … and if there’s any bunch of young musicians that makes me really hopeful and really excited, I’m looking right at them.”

Scott, a three-time Grammy winner lauded for her influence on soul, R&B, and Black storytelling, was presented her honorary degree by Arnetta Johnson BM ’16, a mentee of Scott’s who attended Berklee on a scholarship from her Blues Babe Foundation.

In her remarks, Scott reflected on the enduring power of music that transcends acclaim, urging students that “longevity” is the mission. “I want you to know that time is nothing to music, when it reaches hearts, when it touches lives and souls, when it excites something in us, and it reminds our bodies of better memories. That surpasses charts, trends, plaques, reviews, awards. The goal is to make forever music.”

Colaiuta, a Berklee alumnus often recognized as one of the greatest drummers of all time, reminisced on his experience as a student, from hauling his drum kit through the snowy streets of Boston, to the invaluable feedback and inspiration he received from his instructors and peers.

“Berklee is so vibrant, alive, fresh, daring, innovative … a community of musicians changing the trajectory of music and giving us a glimpse of what’s possible. I see the same possibilities embodied in every one of you today,” said Colaiuta. He went on to remind students that their “future is not some product of circumstances that you can’t control. You can make the environment that you wish. With all the tools and knowledge that you’ve accumulated and assimilated here, go out, go forth, and make it happen.”

This year’s faculty speech was delivered by Libby Allison, professor of music education, who reflected on her teaching career as she approaches retirement. “At this point, you have no idea what your future holds for you. That’s a great thing,” she said. “Commencement gives you a great opportunity and even greater responsibility to reflect and wonder about how you will take the experiences and knowledge from your time at Berklee, as well as the intellect and talent that brought you to Berklee, and to open yourself up to the world.” 

Addressing her fellow classmates, student speaker Keziah Thomas, a film and media scoring major from Bangalore, India, described what makes Berklee a unique place in the world. “Berklee is full of people who could be the best in the room,” she said. “And that can be very intimidating—trust me, I know. But what makes this place special isn’t just excellence; it’s all the different voices and perspectives we all bring to this place.” She ended her remarks encouraging her classmates to stay open minded, saying “I hope we don’t chase perfection. I hope we chase curiosity. I hope we stay open to rewriting our paths. And most importantly, I hope we all remember what it felt like to be starting out here and choose to grow together.”

The annual commencement concert took place the previous evening at Agganis Arena and featured a cast of over 200 graduating students from more than 40 countries. A selection of Berklee’s most talented vocalists, instrumentalists, arrangers, track producers, dancers, and visual artists paid tribute to the honorees by performing a selection of their biggest hits, including Scott’s “Golden,” a medley of Collier’s “Time Alone with You” and “All I Need,” and “Santa Rosa,” by Gino Vannelli, which featured Colaiuta on drums. During the concert, Collier arranged a version of “Billie Jean” in real time with student performers while conducting his signature audience choir, totaling close to 7,000 participants in the arena. He also performed his song “Something Heavy” on piano, arranged and conducted by student Daniela Saglimbeni.

This year’s honorary doctorate recipients were celebrated for cementing a place in popular culture as artistic innovators, unique creators, and arts advocates who continue to connect and inspire global audiences everywhere. Past recipients from the college include Duke Ellington (the first, in 1971), Aretha Franklin, Quincy Jones ’51, Celine Dion, B.B. King, Joni Mitchell, Chaka Khan, esperanza spalding BM ’05, André 3000, Willie Nelson, Missy Elliott, Ringo Starr, Tito Puente, Gloria Estefan, Roberta Flack, Juan Luis Guerra ’82, Rita Moreno, Ledisi, Q-Tip, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Sara Bareilles, and John Legend.