The University of Westminster hosted an event to celebrate the pre-release of the soundtrack for the BBC Three series Boarders, written and composed by Westminster Music students. The event featured live student performances, a screening of the show and a panel discussion on the process behind the music.
On 3 April, attendees gathered at Regent Street Cinema for Behind the Music: An Event to Celebrate the Soundtrack. The event was organised by the University of Westminster Live Performance Project funded by the Quintin Hogg Trust (QHT), with support from the producers of Boarders, Studio Lambert, to celebrate the Westminster team’s work on series two and showcase the talents of its students.
Led by Musical Director Dr Mykaell Riley, Director for the University’s Black Music Research Unit (BMRU) and Principal Investigator for Bass Culture Research, the Westminster team were invited back to write and compose the second season’s soundtrack after their highly commended work on the first series.
The event kicked off with live performances from Westminster Music Production, Performance and Business BA Honours students Rohan (Ronn) Hulikunta, Jewel Appiah and Joseph Burnett, who all contributed to the soundtrack. Joseph was shortlisted for Best TV Sync in the Music and Sounds Award 2024 for his work on a song from the first series’ soundtrack titled Never Be the Same.
This was followed by a screening of the second series’ finale, which featured music from the Westminster team, before Dr Riley hosted a panel discussion about the behind-the-scenes production process. Panellists included Boarders Producer Ali MacPhail and Boarders Music Supervisor Carmen Montanez-Callan, alongside special guest BBC Radio 1Xtra presenter Remi Burgz.
Panellists Carmen Monetanez-Callan (left), Ali MacPhail (centre) and chair Dr Mykaell Riley (right). Photo credit: Elijah McDonnell
Closing the event, RSL Awards founder Norton York awarded Dr Riley with the RSL Fellowship, which acknowledges practitioners who have made significant contributions to the development of their art form while inspiring RSL qualification students to achieve excellence. This recognition celebrates Dr Riley’s transformative influence on music education and the creative industries and reflects the University's ongoing commitment to innovative approaches in preparing students for successful careers in music and related fields.
Dr Riley said: "Being awarded the RSL Fellowship is both humbling and deeply meaningful to me. Since joining the University of Westminster in 1994, I've been committed to creating authentic bridges between academia and the music industry. Seeing our students gain real-world credits on productions like Boarders exemplifies what's possible when we break down traditional educational barriers.”
Dr Mykaell Riley (right) receiving his award from Norton York (left). Photo credit: Elijah McDonnell
About working on the Boarders soundtrack final-year Music Production, Performance and Business BA Honours student Ronn Hulikunta said: “Being part of the Boarders soundtrack has been a proud moment for me as a student and as an artist representing my hometown, Hyderabad, on a global platform. This opportunity allowed me to bring my unique sound and cultural identity into the world of British television. I’m incredibly grateful to the University of Westminster for constantly bridging the gap between music education and real industry experiences with firms like the BBC and Warner Music. A huge thank you to Dr Mykaell Riley for his continued support and belief in the power of diverse voices in music, and heartfelt thanks to everyone involved in my team who helped bring this vision to life.”
Facilitating student contribution to the album contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4: Quality Education and 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
Hear the students’ work in Boarders Series Two on BBC iPlayer and Tubi in North America and LATM.
Listen to the soundtrack’s first single Gold by Joy & Jee Melodies and stream the full album from 2 May.
Find out more about Music courses at the University of Westminster.
Joy & Jee Melodies. Photo credit: Elijah McDonnell
Joseph Burnett. Photo credit: Elijah McDonnell
Ronn Hulikunta. Photo credit: Elijah McDonnell
Entrance to Regent Street Cinema. Photo credit: Elijah McDonnell
Remi Burgz. Photo credit: Elijah McDonnell
Photo credit: Henry Kennard
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