Today we’d like to introduce you to Markevius Faulkner.
Markevius, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Markevius D. Faulkner, an Emmy-nominated vocal arranger, songwriter, music educator and visionary, is the CEO and Founder of Melodic Minds Music Academy since 2014, empowering and enhancing the minds of over 250 students and vocal clients from Las Vegas to the Mid-South. At the University of Memphis, he co-founded The Black Student Association Chosen Generation Gospel Choir an incredible choir that’s still gracing stages for more than 20 years. His remarkable voice has graced prestigious platforms like the iHeart Radio Awards, Soul Train Awards, The Kennedy Center, and Carnegie Hall, Kensington Palace, sharing the stage with acclaimed artists like H.E.R, Wale, Kelly Price, Gladys Knight, Jekayln Carr, Yolanda Adams and more.
As Vocal & Creative Director for The Las Vegas 10 Tenors and The Bronx Wanderers, his musical influence shines on the renowned Las Vegas Strip. He currently serves as the Co-Director of The Kooler Kids Performing Arts Enrichment Program, dedicated to cultivating over 500 youth throughout the Memphis community. He currently serves as the Music Supervisor and Creative Producer for the Soulful Murder Mystery Dinner Show Experience. Markevius’s commitment to community growth and service for humanity is evident through his leadership role with Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc and other youth artistic initiatives. His passion for music, arranging, songwriting and education continues to inspire the next generation of artists and leaders.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Founding Melodic Minds Music Academy in 2014 wasn’t just about teaching music, it meant creating an infrastructure from scratch. Juggling building a business, being the administrator, a mentor, and creative director, all while still developing my own artistic career. Every milestone required sacrifice, sleepless nights, and the ability to keep building even without a blueprint.
Overcoming burnout, imposter syndrome, and high expectations while still being a source of inspiration for the next generation.
Working with students from Memphis to Las Vegas, Markevius has seen firsthand how arts programs are often undervalued or underfunded in marginalized communities.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
As a music educator and creative director, I’ve dedicated my life to using the arts to educate, empower, and elevate. Through Melodic Minds Music Academy, I’ve trained hundreds of students and clients—many of whom have gone on to perform on Broadway in New York City, tour internationally, win major awards, and work on national stages. My work spans vocal coaching, live music scoring, curriculum development, and arts enrichment, always rooted in excellence and heart.
I’m especially passionate about serving youth in underserved communities. Through programs like The Kooler Kids Performing Arts Enrichment Program, I help cultivate confidence, discipline, and creativity in over 500 students each year. Whether I’m directing a sold-out show, coaching a vocalist for a major opportunity, or mentoring the next generation of creatives, I’m committed to using the arts as a transformative tool for education and lifelong impact.
What were you like growing up?
We didn’t always have access to formal training or top-tier equipment, but I had a voice and a deep hunger to learn. The church was my first stage, and the choir was my first classroom. I’d study how directors moved, how singers blended, how music made people feel. I didn’t realize it at the time, but those early Sundays shaped the educator, creative, and leader I would eventually become.
As I got older, I realized my calling wasn’t just to perform but to pour. I wanted to pour into others the way music had poured into me. That’s why I founded Melodic Minds Music Academy—to give young people, especially in underserved communities, access to the kind of creative enrichment I had to fight to find growing up. Through voice, music education, and performance training, I’ve been able to reach hundreds of students—from Las Vegas to the Mid-South—and show them that their creativity has value.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.melodicmindsmusicacademy.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markeviusfaulkner?igsh=MWZpdW5na292MHc3&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1AkR8GXvVU/?mibextid=wwXIfr
