After their successful work on the first and second seasons, University of Westminster students were invited back alongside Professor Mykaell Riley to produce the soundtrack for the third season of the BBC Three series Boarders. To celebrate the accomplishment the University hosted an exclusive premiere of the first episode of the new season, offering engaging panel discussions and networking opportunities.
The critically acclaimed show created by Daniel Lawrence Taylor has recently returned to BBC Three for a third season and continues to follow the journeys of five talented underprivileged Black students from London who gained scholarships to an elite boarding school.
Westminster Music students also returned to produce the new series’ soundtrack alongside Professor Riley, Director for the University’s Black Music Research Unit (BMRU), Principal Investigator for Bass Culture Research, and Musical Director for the show, having worked together on the soundtrack for the first and second seasons with great success.
Throughout the experience, students got the opportunity to develop the practical skills involved in music production and face the real-life challenges of creating a TV soundtrack. By ensuring students gain demonstrable skills, in addition to credits on their CVs, this collaboration highlights Westminster’s commitment to helping its students embark on their professional careers after leaving university.
The students brought a diverse mix of talents and musical perspectives, with a variety of male and female song writers, vocalists, rappers and programmers getting involved. The group got the chance to use a range of technology from Logic Pro, Final Cut Pro, Vimeo and Adobe Premiere to create the soundtrack to the show.
To mark the new season, the University hosted an exclusive premiere of its first episode on 5 March. Over 150 people attended, including the production crew and cast members of the show. The evening gave students the chance to network with people from across the film, TV and music industries, and featured a screening of the first episode and two Q&A panels. The first panel included cast members, and the other saw Westminster Music students take to the stage alongside Professor Riley and the show’s writer Daniel Lawrence-Taylor to speak about their experience working on the soundtrack.
Professor Riley said: "Boarders gave us something rare, a production team that genuinely believed students belonged in the room. At the screening, our student composers, performers and producers were networking on the same footing as the other professionals. Three series later, we have a collection and network of graduates with broadcast experience most professionals spend years chasing. That's what happens when a university stops talking about employability and starts creating it."
Sarah Wagner, a Music, Production Performance and Business BA Honours student, said: "Shadowing Carmen on the Boarders soundtrack was eye-opening. Sitting in on crew meetings, I saw how they narrowed down loads of options to the perfect fit. It was incredible to witness the attention to detail in selecting the perfect sound to elevate the storytelling and audience experience.”
Joe Burnett, Music, Production, Performance and Enterprise BA Honours alumnus, added: "Working as a composer across all three seasons of Boarders has opened my eyes to some important realities, as well as affirm the path I'm on towards my dream career. To get to stand amongst legends of the game, up-and-coming actors, and be in the room with powerful people, standing next to my friends and fellow composers, it can't be described how insane it is, and how reassuring it is to know that those of us still on our way are seen, heard and just as important. I couldn't help but think, 'yeah...it's time to get to work'. The show is far from over!"
The students' collaboration on the album directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth and 4: Quality Education. 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.
Find out more about Music courses at the University of Westminster.
