Breaking Barriers: How an EA/Berklee Partnership is Empowering Equity in Entertainment

Scholarships, connecting with industry leaders, and learning to craft original video game scores from the best in the business

At EA we believe authentic representation opens the games and experiences we create to more people, helping us to fulfill our mission to inspire the world to play. We aim to create games, stories, worlds and characters that authentically represent the communities we serve so that our players can see themselves reflected in the games they love. 

Our work to build games that are incredibly inclusive continues–and we amplify this work through dedicated partnerships where we are able to mentor, attract and support underrepresented communities. 

This past April, in honor of this commitment, we celebrated the second annual EA Berklee Day, providing scholarships, mentorship opportunities, and industry connections to promising women and non-cisgender students at Berklee College of Music who will one day shape the sounds and music of the games we play, watch, create and connect in together.

Supporting the next gen of women music composers

At the EA Berklee Day celebrations, a panel of acclaimed composers, including Stephanie Economou (Assassin's Creed: Dawn of Ragnarok), Natalie Holt (Loki), Kathryn Bostic (Women of the Movement), Emilie Levienaise-Farrouch (Living), and Nainita Desai (Tales of Kenzera: Zau) shared their insights and expertise on working in the entertainment industry. The event concluded with a Q&A section with the students.

Desai, an Emmy award-winning and internationally-renowned composer, most recently worked on the EA Originals Tales of Kenzera: Zau, now available on PC, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 5. This single-player, story-rich Metroidvania game was shaped by Creative Director and Hollywood actor Abubakar Salim’s (House of the Dragon, Napoleon) own experience with grief, discovering how love gives us the courage to press on after devastating loss. The complexity of its themes, paired with its imaginative and rich world, were key in helping Desai craft the beautiful compositions players can enjoy throughout the experience.

The panel was moderated by Steve Schnur, worldwide executive and president at EA Music and creator and curator of EA Berklee Day. They were introduced by Sean McMahon, chair of the college’s Screen Scoring Department. At the panel’s conclusion, all composers offered advice to students. Bostic spoke to the importance of authenticity as an artist, saying, “Your voice is always changing—the constant is you.”

EA Berklee Day also offered an opportunity for EA to present two scholarships to students, Carol Gao and Rachel “Ray” McFarlane.

Both students received $15,000 of educational financial support and professional mentorship opportunities with a team of world-class composers at EA. Through a semester-long mentorship, they will learn how to take their compositional and orchestration skills and apply them to their future careers.

“Since I was a kid, all the composers in the classical canon are male, so the thought of representation never even crossed my mind because I never really saw women composers,” says Gao. “Having an event like this, where not only are we bringing in a panel of the most talented, most accomplished women composers to talk about their journey, but also having younger talent like Ray and me, and to be able to show the world that women–we have a place in this industry."

Gao, a native of Toronto, Canada, is double majoring in game and interactive media scoring and electronic production and design at Berklee. She is a pianist and member of the leadership board of Berklee's Video Game Music Club. After graduation, she will move to Los Angeles for an internship with Sparks and Shadows, Inc. While in LA, she hopes to build her career as a media composer and secure an in-house position at a video game company or production house, in addition to freelance work. Gao’s other passions include session playing and teaching piano, composition, and music theory.

McFarlane, also a native of Canada, is double majoring in game and interactive media scoring and film scoring at Berklee. She is currently a member of the Composer Diversity Collective and an intern at Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Project. She currently works with Orchestral Tools, Eastwest Sounds, and Spitfire Audio as a social media influencer to promote positive inclusion within the video game scoring community. After graduation, McFarlane hopes to continue elevating her skills by attending a master’s program at either the University of Southern California or New York University.

"This scholarship means so much to me. It has provided me with the resources and the mentorship to continue following my dream," says McFarlane.

Building a more inclusive and equitable future

This collaboration between EA and Berklee College of Music began in February 2023 and has since provided three scholarships to deserving students and conducted two celebration events connecting recipients with industry leaders.

With an unwavering commitment to inclusivity, EA recognizes the immense talent and potential that exists within every individual. By fostering a culture of empowerment and providing platforms for underrepresented voices to flourish, EA not only enriches its own creative landscape but also paves the way for a more equitable and inclusive industry as a whole.

Join us as we help usher in the next generation of world-class talent in our industry.