Meet Dr. Tomisha Brock | Experienced Music Educator, Education Consultant, and Professional Development Specialist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dr. Tomisha Brock and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dr. Tomisha, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
My motivation for starting Prodigious Music Concepts, LLC, was the desire to help teacher candidates, especially those of color, break through barriers blocking them from achieving their teaching licenses in their desired field. People of color have struggled with standardized tests since 1917. I witnessed these challenges happening firsthand to some of my classmates, colleagues, and students, which prompted me to take action to be a part of the solution to close this achievement gap.

The motivation to launch my second company, The HBCU Recruitment Center, stemmed from the lack of awareness and support of HBCUs in the Western Region of the United States. Our goal is to be the “blueprint” and catalyst for increased recruitment, enrollment, retention, and successful matriculation of students from the Western Region of the United States at our nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My life and career have been amazing, but unorthodox. From starting school at age 3, to graduating high school at age 16, you could say I never “played by the rules.” I truly believe that my life as a Music Educator/Band Director, is more than just a career, but it is my “purpose” and “ministry.”

I’ve always been a determined “go-getter” with a service-oriented mindset. My proudest moments in my career include being named Director of Bands at Elizabeth City State University in 2011, making history as the first female band director at Clark Atlanta University and in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conferece in 2017, and having the honor to serve as the President of the Intercollegiate Music Association (2015-2017) and currently the HBCU National Band and Orchestra Directors’ Consortium (2022-Present).

The only challenges I’ve had to overcome continuously in this industry, is being a Black Woman in a male-dominated field. However, I let my work ethic and moral character speak for me, and push daily to defy stereotypes and skepticism. I want the world to know, and especially young women, that there are people that look like you doing great things in the field of music and education, and in business in general. I want them to know that this is attainable for them, and to dream big and set goals. Don’t ever let anyone tell you what you can’t do, for you can do anything you set your mind to.

I want the world to know that my focus in life is family first, and that I implement this focus in everything I do personally and professionally. I view my students and colleagues as extensions of my family, and when one succeeds, we all succeed. My aim is to help students realize their dreams, and to help those who had to defer their dreams understand that it is still a possibility for them to reach their goals.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Because Atlanta has always been one of my favorite cities and my second home, I would definitely make sure their visit gave them a true reflection of the full culture of the city (food, entertainment, history, fashion, family, and religion). Some of the attractions we would be sure to visit would include the MLK National Historical Park and Memorial, the World of Coca-Cola, the Georgia Aquarium, The AUC Center colleges/universities and library, and the African American Museum. If they visit during the fall, we will definitely have to catch an AUC Football Game (Morehouse, Clark Atlanta, or Morris Brown).

For meals, we would have a variety of experiences, including Old Lady Gang, Gladys Knight’s Chicken and Waffles, Paschal’s, This Is It!, and a few more… While I’m not big into shopping excursions, you can’t come to Atlanta without going to Lennox Square and The Underground. And finally, to show thanks and fellowship together, we would close out the week by attending a church service.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to shoutout my mother, Alma Holmes-Price, and a few of my teachers and professors who have been instrumental in my educational and professional success. They are my middle school band director, Erma Price, high school band directors Dr. Edward McClellan and Ms. Shawn Batten, and college band director, Mr. Harold Haughton. There are many more I could name, but I just want them to know that I sincerely appreciate their guidance, lessons, and support throughout my life and career thus far.

Website: www.pmconcepts.org and www.hbcurecruitmentcenter.org

Instagram: @prodigiousmusicconcepts and @hbcurecruitmentcenter

Linkedin: hbcu-recruitment-center

Twitter: @hbcurecruitctr

Facebook: @prodigiousconcepts and @hbcurecruitmentcenter

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCACGDVDX-yCJembxl7ots-w