Help Rachel McFarlane Complete Her Berklee Journey

Hello! my name is Rachel McFarlane and I’m a Canadian composer and a senior at Berklee College of Music, where I’m pursuing a dual major in Film Scoring and Video Game Scoring. In just a few months, I’m set to become the first Black woman to graduate from Berklee with this double major. Music has been my life’s passion from performing as a violinist in Canada’s top programs to composing for orchestras, films, and video games. But now, I’m facing an unexpected financial hurdle that could prevent me from completing my final year at Berklee.

Over the past year, my family has endured heartbreaking challenges. My grandmother was diagnosed with aggressive dementia, and my mom has recently been laid off due to her struggling to balance showing up at her job and being my grandmother's full-time caregiver. This loss of income, combined with my sister’s medical school tuition that also needs to be paid, has made it nearly impossible for my mom to cover the remainder of my tuition. I don't want her to have to choose between which person to give her saving to, which is why I am trying my best to take matters into my own hands.

I’ve worked really hard to earn scholarships, including the Women in Game Audio Award this year, which reduced my tuition for next year by $10,000. But I’m still left with a $9,000 gap that I can’t fill on my own. As an international student, I don’t qualify for financial aid like FAFSA, and I’ve exhausted every other option. Completing my degree is more than just a personal goal, it’s a chance to open doors for other underrepresented voices in the media scoring industry. I’m reaching out to ask for your support to help me finish this journey, so I can continue creating music that promotes diversity, representation, and storytelling that resonates with everyone. Any contribution, no matter the size, would mean the world to me!!