Markell Cox
“Music has been a central part of my life for as long as I can remember,” says Markell Cox of Wynne. Markell, a senior majoring in music education at the University of Arkansas, began singing in the church choir in second grade. He, then, picked up the saxophone in sixth grade, and later, became involved in music competitions and community performances in high school.
It was these “transformative” experiences in high school that led him to pursue a career in music education, in the hopes that he can “one day give those same opportunities to the next generation.”
One of the main reasons he chose the U of A was the Inspirational Chorale, a performance ensemble within Fulbright College’s Department of Music dedicated to preserving the tradition of Black sacred music.
“There are few choirs in the country that have the ability to sing such a vast variety of music at the standard that Inspirational Chorale does,” he says, “so once I found out about the Inspirational Chorale, the decision on where I needed to attend college was clear.”
Markell began his path to Senior Walk during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Surprisingly, he found the experience to be enjoyable. “It almost felt like a ‘soft launch’ to what the typical college experience would be,” he says. “It allowed me to settle in without too many distractions, and I enjoyed the way that virtual classes allowed me to choose my own learning space.
“The stillness of the world caused by the pandemic also gave me a lot of room, time and space to be creative and think outside of the box about music,” he says.
During his time in school, Markell was dedicated to giving back to the campus community through his roles in Greek life leadership, serving as a Student Success Guide in the Cordia Harrington Center for Excellence, and as a peer mentor with the Upward Bound program, as well as taking an internship at a local elementary school.
“More than anything,” he says, “being able to serve in leadership within Greek Life has prepared me for the next stage of my life.”
He also credits professors Lauren Clare and Jeffrey Murdock for being welcoming and willing to make time to talk to students, as well as consistently seeking ways to advocate for them. “That is what has helped me grow as a musician and teacher the most,” he says.
Now a senior, he says his next step after graduation will be teaching choir at Riverview High School in Searcy.
Markell says, “When I reflect upon my time at the U of A, it’s not the lessons inside the classroom that made the most impact on me, but rather those outside of the classroom.”
For more student success stories like Markell’s, check out some of our previous #MyPathToSeniorWalk features: Dhruvi Bhatt, Kathryn Richardson, Jordan Lackey and others at our #MyPathToSeniorWalk website. If you’d like to be featured in the #MyPathToSeniorWalk series, please fill out the nomination form.
