
Student Spotlight: Rachel McFarlane The Canadian composer talks about being drawn to the storytelling power of scoring for film and video games, working with sound libraries, and boosting visibility for composers of color.
By
Editorial Staff
March 14, 2025
What's it like to study at Berklee? Our Student Spotlight series asks current students all about their Berklee experience-what they're learning in class, what kinds of projects they're involved in onstage or behind the scenes, how they recharge, and of course, what they're listening to. In this installment, get to know violinist and composer Rachel McFarlane, an eighth-semester dual major in film and media scoring and games and interactive media scoring (GAIMS) from Canada.
Follow Rachel on Instagram, LinkedIn, and her website.
Rachel McFarlane
Image by Teddy Kent
Tell us about your path to Berklee. What made you decide to come here?I started writing for live ensembles when I was 16. After gaining some recognition in Canada, I realized I wanted to pursue composition after high school instead of my initial path, violin performance. I graduated in May 2020, and if there was one thing COVID gave me (and many others), it was time. I used that time to research schools around the world to figure out where I wanted to go.
That summer, I took two Berklee five-week programs online: the High School Composition Intensive and Film, TV, and Game Scoring Program in LA (though in reality, the latter took place in my living room). While the first program focused more on live concert music, I really connected with the film scoring course because it showed me just how much music can enhance storytelling. I learned so much about film technology, music, and emotional landscapes in such a short time that Berklee quickly became my top choice.
Whats been your favorite class so far, and what has it taught you?Audio Foundations for Interactive Media with Gina Zdanowicz was an absolute blast. As a composer, most of my classes focus on music, but this course showed me how much energy goes into sound design for video games. We explored how to add our own foley and sound effects using [software programs] FMOD and Unity, and even got the chance to create audio assets for game developers at USC. It was a really cool experience getting to see how music and sound design come together in interactive media.
Whats a project youve worked on since coming to Berklee that youve been especially excited about?It's not just one project, but I've really enjoyed collaborating with sample libraries like Orchestral Tools on social media. Their Berlin Orchestra Library that they developed with Berklee is a part of our school bundle, but beyond that, I've had the privilege of creating mockups for film and video game scenes using their other libraries. It's been an awesome experience, and I highly recommend their tools for anyone working in composition or sound design!
How do you typically recharge or find new ideas outside of class?Fitness is a big one for me! it's a great way to reset after long stretches of work, and I tend to get the best ideas when I compose right after a workout. I also try my best to just enjoy video games without overanalyzing the horizontal sequencing or RTPCs [Real-Time Parameter Controls] (hahaha).
When you think towards your own future, who inspires you most?The people who inspire me most are musicians of color who have continued pursuing music while questioning whether it was a realistic career path for them. I'm on track to be the first Black student to graduate with the GAIMS major and the GAIMS/film double major, which is really exciting! I try to use my social media platforms to educate and be a source of visibility for my community, so others know that people like me exist in these spaces, and that we've always been here.
My first Black violin teacher was Tanya Charles, and before her, I had never seen anyone who looked like me in classical music. She, along with incredible composers like Chanda Dancy, Amanda Jones, EmmoLei Sankofa, and Kathryn Bostic, have been a huge inspiration. Having the privilege to meet and learn from artists like them reassures me that I'm on the right path.
Whats one piece of advice youd give to your high school self?I would tell them that at this point in your career, you've had the privilege of meeting so many musicians and composers that you look up to, and even they don't have it all figured out. So don't stress about trying to control everything! Uncertainty and curiosity are key parts of the creative process so learn to embrace the unknown.
Rachel McFarlanes Top Five Film and Game ScoresWe asked Rachel to give us five of her favorite media scores. Heres what she said:
1. Reborn, Colin Stetson, from the film Hereditary
2. All About Reggie, Kris Bowers, from the TV show Dear White People
3. Felixs Suite, Anthony Willis, from the film Saltburn
4. Mud and Blood, Johan S derqvist and Patrik Andr n, from the game Battlefield 1
5. Frostfall, Jeremy Soule, from the game Skyrim
Related Categories
News
Student Spotlight
Most Popular
Toto in the recording studio from Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary.
Photograph by Jim Hagopian/HBO
The Best Music Documentaries on Every Streaming Platform Explore groundbreaking music documentaries streaming across Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+, and more. From intimate artist portraits to legendary concert films, discover the stories behind your favorite artists and iconic moments.
Latest
Matanzas Sound Map on display at Tate Modern in 2025.
Tate / Reece Straw
Neil Leonard's Matanzas Sound Map Brings Immersive Sonic Cartography to Tate Modern's East Tank Blending field recordings, video projections, and glass sculptures, the installation immerses visitors in the sonic landscapes of Matanzas, Cuba.
B
Most recent headlines
06/10/2025
France T l visions, France's leading broadcaster, has received the 2025 EBU ...
04/09/2025
Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE), in collaboration with Dalet, has been a...
04/07/2025
By Lucy Spicer
Editor's note: We are deeply saddened by the passing of Robe...
04/07/2025
The Summer Reading Challenge has inspired children across the U.K. to embrace a ...
04/07/2025
Introducing CVP Auctions: Trusted Tech, At Auction-Only Prices
Brie Clayton July 4, 2025
0 Comments
A New Destination for Film and Broadcast Gear at U...
04/07/2025
Unveiling China's Ecological Wonders with URSA Mini Pro 12K
Brie Clayton July 4, 2025
0 Comments
Nature Documentaries Freeze Epic Momentsin Extrem...
04/07/2025
Create Any Planet in After Effects
Graham Quince July 4, 2025
0 Comments
The Advanced 3D renderer in After Effects makes it really easy to import 3D o...
04/07/2025
Custom Gradient Colorize for Resolve Fusion
Simon Ubsdell July 4, 2025
0 Comments
Digging into the theory of the gradient colorize process to build ou...
04/07/2025
Watching live sports on TV these days is a delicate balance for broadcasters how much information is too much?...
04/07/2025
WASHINGTON As Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr works to achieve his goal of a very busy, productive summer at the FCC, the agency has rele...
04/07/2025
Other World Computing Launches OWC Guardian USB-C Hardware-Encrypted Portable SS...
04/07/2025
CANAL Brings MotoGP to Vision Pro with Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive
Brie Clayton July 3, 2025
0 Comments
Experience MotoGP like never before as CA...
04/07/2025
Friday 4 July 2025
Watch the trailer here https://youtu.be/Od5WpvWmDr8
Further...
04/07/2025
The Pitch comes to RT Radio 1 airwaves this Sunday at 7pm. The Pitch is a brand...
03/07/2025
For our Vario-Jib, as well as for a repertoire of weights, we now have carts that make transport easier...
03/07/2025
One of our latest innovations: Slider Drive Unit!
Our Vario Slider not only comes with improvements and new features, but also with its own drive unit!
Our i...
03/07/2025
The 360 EVO lives up to its name: 360-degree rotation not only on the pan axis, but also on the roll axis, enables filmmakers to take their creative visions eve...
03/07/2025
What a buzzing few days at BSCExpo in London!
We were thrilled to connect with so many talented professionals from the world of cinematography.
A huge thank ...
03/07/2025
ADOLESCENCE - Shot with Panther Tower"The whole rig had to be detachable mid-episode
Netflix limited drama series Adolescence has been gaining attentio...
03/07/2025
To achieve a true level of decisive overmatch, communication systems must be as ...
03/07/2025
The Broadcasters Foundation of America has named Ray Hopkins, president of U.S. distribution at Paramount Global, to its board of directors....
03/07/2025
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. In his first major policy speech, Federal Communications Commission chair Brendan Carr outlined his Build America Agenda for the agency'...
03/07/2025
As the industry is making a major push to transition to NextGen TV and develop new businesses that will fund the next generation of broadcasting, TV Tech's ...
03/07/2025
Despite enabling its subscribers to watch films and TV shows in the highest possible resolution, Netflix has revealed it is taking things old school with the in...
03/07/2025
WASHINGTON In response to news that Paramount Global has agreed to pay $16 million to settle a lawsuit by President Donald Trump, Democrats and other administra...
03/07/2025
WUPPERTAL, Germany Riedel Communications today launched RefSuite for professional sports workflows....
03/07/2025
WEITERSTADT, Germany LYNX Technik, a provider of modular signal processing solutions, has announced that founder and longtime CEO Winfried Deckelmann is steppin...
03/07/2025
WASHINGTON Representatives from six trade groups representing tech, pay TV, broadband, LPTV and other sectors recently met with Federal Communications Commissio...
03/07/2025
PLYMOUTH, Wis. Dan Whealy has acquired Heartland Video Systems and will be its new owner and president, the systems integrator said....
03/07/2025
Acclaimed filmmaker, educator, and industry veteran Jay Holben has released his most ambitious work to date: The Director's Guide to Everything a sweeping...
03/07/2025
For Los Angeles-based photographer Scout Pruski, documenting the annual Dyke Day LA is a way to honor and give back to the city's legacy queer community and...
03/07/2025
Modular, Travel-Ready Solution Matthews Studio Equipment launches the new Chimera V-Flat Panel Frame Kit, the lightweight and modular, ultra-durable alternativ...
03/07/2025
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, today announced the release of Dalet Flex 2025.6 LTS (long-term support), introdu...
03/07/2025
Lightware's LARA Wizard makes it quicker and easier than ever to set up audio-visual (AV) room automation and control configurations, ensuring anyone, from ...
03/07/2025
Alfalite, the only European manufacturer of LED screens, has obtained both the NCAGE Code (NATO Commercial and Government Entity) and TAA (Trade Agreements Act)...
03/07/2025
nxtedition is implementing a new solution for WIN Network, based in its headquarters in Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. The nxtedition integrated platfo...
03/07/2025
ORS Group and Insys Video Technologies today announce the launch of a new joint brand identity: Big Blue Marble. The move reflects the evolution of a long-stand...
03/07/2025
Evergent, a global leader in customer lifecycle management and monetization solutions for subscription-based businesses, today announced the successful results ...
03/07/2025
LYNX Technik, provider of modular signal processing solutions today announces an executive leadership transition, effective July 1, 2025. Markus Motzko has been...
03/07/2025
Chaos Releases V-Ray for Blender
Brie Clayton July 2, 2025
0 Comments
Production-Proven Renderer V-Ray Arrives Natively in Blender for the First Time;...
03/07/2025
Calvin University Adds Blackmagic Replay to Broadcasts and Streams
Brie Clayton July 2, 2025
0 Comments
Replay workflow joins 14 Blackmagic Design cam...
03/07/2025
Berklee's Gospel Performance Program Welcomes Jonathan Nelson as the Herb Al...
03/07/2025
Back to All News
Get Ready for Even More Action! Netflix Has Confirmed the Thir...
03/07/2025
Back to All News
Get ready for even more action! Netflix has confirmed the thir...
03/07/2025
In today's fragmented media landscape, advertisers expect more than just reach - they want seamless cross-platform campaigns that deliver measurable results...
03/07/2025
** MEDIA ALERT ** Shonen Jump Store Hosting Los Angeles Pop-up During Anime Exp...
03/07/2025
Thursday 3 July 2025
David Harewood and Matthew Broome in Mozart: Genius for Hi...
03/07/2025
The Sky WNT Fund supports Womens National Team players with a 30,000 bursaryThursday 3 July 2025
Sky Ireland has announced the four recipients of the 2025 Sky...
03/07/2025
The forecast this month is showing a 100% chance of epic gaming. Catch the scorching lineup of 20 titles coming to the cloud, which gamers can play whether indo...
02/07/2025
Hege Wik and Odin appear in FOLKTALES by Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady, an official selection of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institut...