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Richelle Brown

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Finalist

Bio

Hello! My name is Richelle Brown, and I am a student at Middle Tennessee State University, majoring in Audio Production. I moved across the state from East Tennessee in pursuit of my dream of becoming a live audio engineer and producer. I work full-time and also run a reselling page, but I still find myself struggling to pay for equipment and resources while attending school. Any aid would help greatly. Thank you for reading!

Education

Middle Tennessee State University

Bachelor's degree program
2024 - 2028
  • Majors:
    • Music
  • Minors:
    • Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations

Happy Valley High School

High School
2021 - 2024

Miscellaneous

  • Desired degree level:

    Master's degree program

  • Graduate schools of interest:

  • Transfer schools of interest:

  • Majors of interest:

    • Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians
    • Music
  • Not planning to go to medical school
  • Career

    • Dream career field:

      Music

    • Dream career goals:

    • Digital Shopper

      Walmart
      2024 – Present2 years
    • Cashier

      Freddy's frozen custard and steakburgers
      2023 – 20252 years

    Arts

    • Grace Baptist Church

      Music
      2024 – 2026

    Future Interests

    Advocacy

    Volunteering

    Entrepreneurship

    Neil Margeson Sound Scholarship
    Before I ever understood the technical side of audio production, I understood the feeling that music and sound could create comfort, connection, energy, and the ability to make people feel understood without a single word being spoken. Music and sound have been one of the biggest driving forces in my life and education. What began as a personal love for music eventually became a passion for understanding how sound can shape emotion, energy, and connection between people. That passion is what led me to pursue a degree in Audio Production at Middle Tennessee State University and begin working toward my dream career as a Live Audio Engineer and Producer. Moving across Tennessee, four and a half hours from home to attend MTSU was a major step for me. I knew that if I wanted to seriously pursue a future in audio production, I needed to put myself in an environment where I could learn from experienced professionals and gain hands-on experience with industry equipment and software. Since starting school, I have learned that audio engineering is much more than simply operating equipment. It requires a lot of creativity, technical skill, problem solving, communication, and constant learning and troubleshooting. Every project and class has helped me grow in my career and inspired me to do even better. Music and sound have also given me purpose during difficult and stressful periods of my life. Balancing full-time work while attending school has been challenging, especially while trying to afford equipment, software, and other educational resources needed to continue developing my skills. Despite those challenges, my passion for audio has continued to motivate me to keep moving forward. Even when I feel exhausted or overwhelmed, I always find myself returning to music, production, and live sound because it is the one thing that consistently inspires me and makes me excited about the future. One of the things I love most about live audio is the ability to create an experience that people will remember. Behind every concert, performance, or event is a team responsible for making sure the audience can fully connect with the music and the artist. I want to be part of creating those experiences. Whether I am mixing live sound, working in production, or producing music in a studio, my goal is to help artists bring their creative visions to life while creating meaningful experiences for listeners. In the future, I hope to build a long-term career in live audio engineering and music production. I want to continue developing my technical skills, gain professional touring and production experience, and eventually work with artists and events on a larger scale. I also hope to inspire other young women interested in audio engineering, as it is still a heavily male-dominated field. I want to prove that passion, hard work, and dedication can create opportunities regardless of background or circumstance. Receiving this scholarship would help relieve some of the financial pressure that comes with pursuing this path and allow me to focus more fully on my education and professional development. More importantly, it would support my continued pursuit of a career that I am deeply passionate about and committed to building.
    Carolyn Talbert Performing Arts Scholarship
    Attending my first concert in early 2023 was an unforgettable experience. Living in a small town, opportunities to see my favorite artists perform live are rare. So, when I found out that one of my favorites was coming to town, I was ecstatic. I will never forget the moment I entered the venue; the energy was palpable. The crowd of passionate fans, all gathered together and eagerly awaiting their favorite artist, created an electric atmosphere. As the lights dimmed and the music began, a wave of excitement swept through the audience, binding us together in shared anticipation. It was a night that solidified my love for live music and the incredible experiences it brings, making it a memory I will cherish forever. That concert sparked a desire in me to be part of the behind-the-scenes action that creates such unforgettable moments for others. I started exploring different careers involved in concert production and discovered audio production. The idea of mixing audio for crowds to enjoy their favorite artists live became a dream. I began researching the field, learning about the various roles and responsibilities of audio producers. The more I learned, the more my interest grew. Recently, I had the opportunity to shadow an audio team at a local church, and it has been one of the best experiences of my life. The production crew has been incredible, patiently answering my questions and teaching me so much. Their mentorship has inspired me, and I look forward to giving back and mentoring others in the future. During my time shadowing the audio team, I gained hands-on experience with the equipment and software used in audio production. I learned about the importance of sound checks, balancing audio levels, and the intricacies of live mixing. Each task, from setting up microphones to adjusting soundboards, gave me more experience and knowledge in the field. The teamwork and precision required to deliver a seamless audio experience were both challenging and exhilarating. This experience confirmed that audio production is not just a job for me, but a true passion. Audio production is a heavily male-dominated field, with women making up only 3% of all producers, reflecting a significant gender imbalance within the industry. Despite this, I am determined to pursue my passion and make my mark in this field. I believe that diversity brings strength, and I am committed to contributing my unique perspective as a woman in audio production. I hope to inspire other young women to follow their dreams in this industry, breaking down barriers and challenging stereotypes. As I embark on this journey of learning live audio, I couldn't be more excited. I am eager to dive deep into understanding the technical aspects of sound engineering, music production, and mixing live audio at MTSU. This path aligns perfectly with my passion for music and my desire to help bring people together through it. I envision a future where I can create unforgettable concert experiences, just as I experienced during my first concert. This scholarship would provide crucial financial support as I enter my freshman year of college and pursue my dreams in the audio production industry. It would enable me to focus on my studies and gain the skills necessary to excel in this field, ultimately allowing me to contribute to the world of live music in meaningful ways.
    CML Music Scholarship
    Attending my first concert in early 2023 was an unforgettable experience. Living in a small town, opportunities to see my favorite artists perform live are rare. So, when I found out that one of my favorites was coming to town, I was ecstatic. I will never forget the moment I entered the venue; the energy was palpable. The crowd of passionate fans, all gathered together and eagerly awaiting their favorite artist, created an electric atmosphere. As the lights dimmed and the music began, a wave of excitement swept through the audience, binding us together in shared anticipation. It was a night that solidified my love for live music and the incredible experiences it brings, making it a memory I will cherish forever. That concert sparked a desire in me to be part of the behind-the-scenes action that creates such unforgettable moments for others. I started exploring different careers involved in concert production and discovered audio production. The idea of mixing audio for crowds to enjoy their favorite artists live became a dream. I began researching the field, learning about the various roles and responsibilities of audio producers. The more I learned, the more my interest grew. Recently, I had the opportunity to shadow an audio team at a local church, and it has been one of the best experiences of my life. The production crew has been incredible, patiently answering my questions and teaching me so much. Their mentorship has inspired me, and I look forward to giving back and mentoring others in the future. During my time shadowing the audio team, I gained hands-on experience with the equipment and software used in audio production. I learned about the importance of sound checks, balancing audio levels, and the intricacies of live mixing. Each task, from setting up microphones to adjusting soundboards, gave me more experience and knowledge in the field. The teamwork and precision required to deliver a seamless audio experience were both challenging and exhilarating. This experience confirmed that audio production is not just a job for me, but a true passion. Audio production is a heavily male-dominated field, with women making up only 3% of all producers, reflecting a significant gender imbalance within the industry. Despite this, I am determined to pursue my passion and make my mark in this field. I believe that diversity brings strength, and I am committed to contributing my unique perspective as a woman in audio production. I hope to inspire other young women to follow their dreams in this industry, breaking down barriers and challenging stereotypes. As I embark on this journey of learning live audio, I couldn't be more excited. I am eager to dive deep into understanding the technical aspects of sound engineering, music production, and mixing live audio at MTSU. This path aligns perfectly with my passion for music and my desire to help bring people together through it. I envision a future where I can create unforgettable concert experiences, just as I experienced during my first concert. This scholarship would provide crucial financial support as I enter my freshman year of college and pursue my dreams in the audio production industry. It would enable me to focus on my studies and gain the skills necessary to excel in this field, ultimately allowing me to contribute to the world of live music in meaningful ways.
    Neil Margeson Sound Scholarship
    Attending my first concert in early 2023 was an unforgettable experience. Living in a small town, opportunities to see my favorite artists perform live are rare. So, when I found out that one of my favorites was coming to town, I was ecstatic. I will never forget the moment I entered the venue; the energy was palpable. The crowd of passionate fans, all gathered together and eagerly awaiting their favorite artist, created an electric atmosphere. As the lights dimmed and the music began, a wave of excitement swept through the audience, binding us together in shared anticipation. It was a night that solidified my love for live music and the incredible experiences it brings, making it a memory I will cherish forever. That concert sparked a desire in me to be part of the behind-the-scenes action that creates such unforgettable moments for others. I started exploring different careers involved in producing a concert and discovered audio production. The idea of mixing audio for crowds to enjoy their favorite artists live became a dream. I began researching the field, learning about the various roles and responsibilities of audio producers. The more I learned, the more my interest grew. Recently, I had the opportunity to shadow an audio team at a local church, and it has been one of the best experiences of my life. The production crew has been incredible, patiently answering my questions and teaching me so much. Their mentorship has inspired me, and I look forward to giving back and mentoring others in the future. During my time shadowing the audio team, I gained hands-on experience with the equipment and software used in audio production. I learned about the importance of sound checks, balancing audio levels, and the intricacies of live mixing. Each task, from setting up microphones to adjusting soundboards, gave me more knowledge in the field. The teamwork and precision required to deliver a seamless audio experience were both challenging and exhilarating. This experience confirmed that audio production is not just a job for me, but a true passion. Audio production is a heavily male-dominated field, with women making up only 3% of all producers, reflecting a significant gender imbalance within the industry. Despite this, I am determined to pursue my passion and make my mark in this field. I believe that diversity brings strength, and I am committed to contributing my unique perspective as a woman in audio production. I hope to inspire other young women to follow their dreams in this industry, breaking down barriers and challenging stereotypes. As I embark on this journey of learning live audio, I couldn't be more excited. I am eager to dive deep into understanding the technical aspects of sound engineering, music production, and mixing live audio at MTSU. This path aligns perfectly with my passion for music and my desire to help bring people together through it. I envision a future where I can create unforgettable concert experiences, just as I experienced during my first concert. This scholarship would provide crucial financial support as I enter my freshman year of college and pursue my dreams in the audio production industry. It would enable me to focus on my studies and gain the skills necessary to excel in this field, ultimately allowing me to contribute to the world of live music in meaningful ways.