Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel McFarlane.
Hi Rachel, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I knew from the age of 12 that music would be a central part of my life. I started playing the violin at that age, and while I loved the instrument, I often felt limited in how I could express myself creatively. I experimented with piano but didn’t fully unlock my artistic voice until I was introduced to composing in high school. Through composing, I found a way to tell stories using any and every instrument and that changed everything for me.
Growing up in Toronto, I was also very aware of how few people looked like me in the classical and media music spaces. Often the only Black musician in many ensembles, I felt compelled to challenge those norms and carve out a space for myself as a composer. At 16, I was accepted into the Claude Watson School for the Arts, where I had the opportunity to compose for incredible groups like The Gryphon Trio, Odin Quartet, and the Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra. These formative experiences solidified my passion for storytelling through music and showed me how powerful a score could be in shaping an audience’s emotional experience.
After the pandemic, I moved to Boston to attend Berklee College of Music, initially pursuing film scoring, and later adding Games and Interactive Media Scoring to deepen my understanding of immersive, interactive storytelling. In May of this year, I became the first Black woman to graduate from Berklee with a double major in both fields; a milestone I’m proud to hold, not just for myself, but as a role model for other underrepresented composers. During my time at Berklee, I have been recognized through honours like the Bill Pierce MLK Scholarship, the Women in Game Audio Award, the Best of Berklee Trailblazer Award. I was honoured with the EA/Berklee Charting Change Scholarship, a collaboration between the Screen Scoring Department at Berklee and EA Music, which recognized my exceptional talent and support for women and non-cisgender individuals in the industry. This scholarship provided me with significant financial support and a year long mentorship from an industry-leading team at Electronic Arts. I was also selected by Berklee College of Music and The Office of the Associate Vice President and Dean of Students to be the Valedictorian and Student Commencement Speaker for the 2025 Graduating Class where I had to give remarks to the graduating students, faculty, honorary Doctorate recipients (Andre 3000 and Sara Bareilles) and the board of trustees, which is now gaining traction on social media.
Last year, I was named one of CBC’s 30 Best Classical Musicians Under 30, an extraordinary accomplishment that highlights my remarkable talent and rapid rise in the classical music world. This prestigious recognition cements my place as a trailblazer, proving I’m carving a unique path in the industry. Along side that, I continue to compose classical pieces for the Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra, The Royal Conservatory’s Oscar Peterson Program to honour the legacy of Oscar Peterson (I’m the first living composer to be commissioned by their orchestra), and I’m currently a composer for the Sphinx Orchestra.
As a media composer, I’m currently working with Red Bull Music House to compose cinematic music for their media campaigns. I am also the lead composer for the QuickFlickTV series “I(UN)DO” which was premiered at the PeachTree Film Festival and PAFF this year, and the series “Coming Home” which will release later this year on Bell Media. I also have been a composer assistant for EmmoLei Sankofa on Delta’s inflight entertainment movie “Journey to Legacy”.
As a Black woman, I am deeply committed to increasing diversity and representation in media scoring. I’m a content creator on @raylaxingmusic and have been fortunate to work with industry leaders like Splice, Orchestral Tools, East West Sounds, and Spitfire Audio by composing demos and using those platforms to highlight the contributions of women and people of colour in media scoring. I’ve spoken on panels such as Shades of Sync and Georgia State University’s Sync meet up which were both amazing opportunities to share my experiences as a media composer and represent Black Women in such a Male Dominated field. My work is driven by a love for storytelling and a commitment to using music to elevate underrepresented voices. I believe music is one of the most powerful tools for empathy and connection, and I’m grateful to be part of a generation of composers pushing boundaries in both sound and representation.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Growing up, I was often the only Black musician in the orchestras, ensembles, and composition spaces I was a part of, and that kind of isolation made it difficult to see a clear path forward for myself in this industry. Classical and media scoring are fields where there’s still a lot of work to be done around diversity and representation, and navigating those spaces early on, often without mentors who looked like me, was a real challenge. I developed really bad imposter syndrom and anxiety because of this. It felt like I always had to work twice as hard to get at least half of what everyone else had, which caused me to burn out a lot at school
On top of that, finding my creative identity took time. I started with violin and piano, but always felt creatively restricted until I discovered composing. Even then, there was a lot of uncertainty about whether there was space for someone like me, and how I could carve out my own lane.
Financially, it’s been a battle as well. My sister is currently in medical school, and it’s been hard on my parents to tackle both of our tuitions at the same time. This put a lot of pressure on me to grind and find a way to gain scholarships to help out my parents out as much as I could. Despite the amount of scholarships I received last year and being an RA, I still had to launch a GoFundMe to help pay for my spring tuition. Regardless, Every setback has fuelled my determination to break barriers and leave this industry more inclusive than I found it.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a composer and storyteller at heart. I specialize in scoring for film, video games, and concert music, with a particular focus on combining rich orchestral textures with modern, experimental sounds to elevate stories and create immersive worlds. I’m probably best known for my versatility and my ability to emotionally connect with a project, whether it’s an intimate indie film, an interactive narrative game, or a full orchestral performance.
What I’m most proud of isn’t just the accolades, it’s the way I’ve carved out a space for myself in an industry where people like me aren’t often seen. From being the only Black musician in ensembles growing up to becoming the first Black woman to graduate from Berklee with a double major in Film Scoring and Games and Interactive Media Scoring, every step has meant actively breaking barriers and creating new opportunities for others to follow.
What really sets me apart is my work ethic and collaborative spirit. I’m someone who genuinely thrives in creative communities. I love working alongside directors, animators, sound designers, and fellow composers, bouncing ideas around and seeing how different perspectives shape a story. Scoring isn’t a solo sport, it’s about trust, listening, and serving the narrative. I’m incredibly disciplined when it comes to my craft because I know the level of sacrifice it takes to succeed in this space, especially as an international student balancing school, work, and financial obstacles.
I believe music is one of the most powerful tools we have to tell stories that matter, to help audiences feel seen, and to bring people together. I’m constantly inspired by the idea that through discipline, passion, and community, you can build something bigger than yourself. And that’s exactly what I intend to keep doing.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
Celeste Debro is a music supervisor and talent manager who has worked on projects like Divorce in the Black, Young Dylan, and Zatima . I met Celeste during a panel at the Shades of Sync conference in Atlanta, and from our first conversation, her industry knowledge and genuine support stood out. She has an incredible ability to provide clear, actionable advice while always keeping it real. Despite her busy schedule, she consistently makes time for me, offering guidance and encouragement that have been invaluable as I navigate my career.
EmmoLei Sankofa is a composer, producer, and artist whose work spans music, visual media, and fine art. She was one of the first composers to bring me onto projects as an assistant, teaching me the importance of efficiency and authenticity in the creative process. I feel like EmmoLei embodies what it means to stay true to oneself while excelling in the industry, and her mentorship has profoundly influenced my approach to composition and collaboration.
Brian Vickers is a music supervisor at Walt Disney Studios, known for his work on major film campaigns including Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War, and Frozen II . He has been a steadfast advocate for me, often introducing me to other Black composers and opening doors within the industry. Brian’s support and encouragement have been instrumental in expanding my professional network and confidence.
Tanya Charles is a professional violinist and educator based in Toronto, serving as faculty at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Music and the Oscar Peterson Program at the Royal Conservatory of Music . As my first violin teacher who looked like me, Tanya’s mentorship was pivotal. She not only nurtured my early musical development but also actively promoted my work, leading to opportunities to compose for orchestras across Canada.
My followers on my platform @raylaxingmusic have been a constant source of motivation and inspiration! Their engagement, feedback, and support remind me of the importance of accessibility in music education. I strive to tailor my content to their interests and needs, recognizing that not everyone has the opportunity to attend music school. Their encouragement fuels my commitment to creating inclusive and educational musical content.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.rachelmcfarlanemusic.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raylaxingmusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rachel.mcfarlane.946
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-mcfarlane-915147256/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@raylaxingmusic
Image Credits
Abi Samuels (grad photo)
