ABOUT
RACHEL MCFARLANE

Rachel “Ray” McFarlane is a Canadian composer whose journey began as a violinist in the prestigious Claude Watson Program at Earl Haig Secondary School. She first gained recognition with her piece Beyond the Challenger Deep, performed by the acclaimed Gryphon Trio at Toronto’s Roy Thomson Hall. Rachel is now set to become the first Black woman to graduate from Berklee College of Music with a Bachelor of Music in both Games and Interactive Media Scoring and Film Scoring.

Passionate about exploring multiple artistic mediums, Rachel has made her mark across concert music, film scores, and video game compositions. As a dual major at Berklee, she recently received the prestigious EA/Berklee Charting Change Scholarship—a distinguished award that recognizes her talent and dedication to supporting women and non-cisgender individuals in the music industry. This scholarship includes mentorship from renowned composers like Stephen Barton, Stephanie Economou, Ilan Eshkeri, and Kathryn Bostic, as well as opportunities to work closely with the EA Music team. Through this program, Rachel is expanding her skills in composing, orchestrating, and arranging original scores for EA game titles, propelling her career forward.

In July 2024, Rachel was named one of CBC’s 30 Best Classical Musicians Under 30, affirming her exceptional talent and rapid ascent in the music world. Outside her studies, she continues to compose for prominent orchestras, including the Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra and the Niagara Symphony Orchestra, both of which champion Canadian composers through high-quality performances of symphonic and chamber music. Rachel is also the first composer commissioned to create original works for The Royal Conservatory of Music’s Oscar Peterson Program, a celebrated institution setting global standards in music education and performance.

Rachel’s recent work includes scoring the new QuickFlickTV series I(UN)DO, which premiered in November 2024. Her blend of orchestral and modern sounds brought a vibrant, quirky energy to the dramedy, enriching the storytelling and character dynamics. The series and Rachel’s score have received enthusiastic acclaim at the Peachtree International Film Festival in Atlanta and the NYC Web Festival.

In addition to her composition work, Rachel is an active music content creator on social media and a sponsored composer for Orchestral Tools, Spitfire Audio, Sonuscore, Cinesamples, and Reelcrafter. Approaching the end of her studies at Berklee, she continues to be mentored through EA Music and is eagerly seeking new opportunities to compose for stage, screen, and games.

SOCIAL MEDIA & EDUCATION

“Epic tales deserve epic music, and I am dedicated to composing scores that amplify the magnificence of visual storytelling.”

I already knew music would be my life when I was 12 years old. I started playing the violin then, and although I loved the instrument, my musical creativity felt very limited. Switching from said melodic instrument to a more harmonic instrument (piano) still didn’t feel the desire I had. In high school I was introduced to composing, which is where I was able to story-tell using any and every instrument and become fully fulfilled with my musical creativity.

When I write, the visuals that come to mind aren't always distinct figures or scenes, but they’re always there. I think this is a reason why writing to visuals (linear and interactive) is so much fun. I love being able to enhance a story with music. As technology grows, I believe that it is essential to be knowledgeable and up to date with as much music technology as you can, because it will only further help you and your musical creativity. As a Film Scoring and Games and Interactive Media Scoring (G.A.I.M.S) student at Berklee College of Music, my music is always being challenged and pushed to the next level. I love that I’m a part of this generation of composers that focuses on seeing how far we can push technology to enhance our music for audiences to feel more immersed than ever in a story.

My passion for media scoring extends beyond my own personal and professional goals. I am deeply committed to promoting diversity and representation in the industry and to being a role model for others who share my passion. I am particularly interested in working on projects that promote diversity and inclusivity in media scoring. I believe that everyone should have access to stories that represent and resonate with them, and music has the power to help achieve that goal.