Scholarship Vignette: Alexei Mejouev, 2016

My name is Alexei Mejouev. I was a TMMC scholarship winner in 2016. As a high schooler I played in the Wilmington Youth Symphony, Wilmington Symphony and a few chamber ensembles. 

Now I typically find myself somewhere in between music and filmmaking. In 2019, I was lucky enough to score a job in Atlanta as a production assistant on two seasons of a tv show. 

To be honest, for a few years I was confused on what role music played in my life. Music had taught me so much both artistically and entrepreneurially, but after studying it in college my drive for it became a little stale and stagnant. 

I decided to dive deep into filmmaking. To really test my skills and acquire new ones I bought a camera and a one way ticket to Europe. The challenge was to clear my head about music, and make a short movie every other day. Traveling abroad, no matter where I pointed my camera, music always followed me. It seemed like a higher calling. 

Flash forward to 2024 I have now traveled around the world and collaborated with artists across the genre spectrum. Last year I received a grant from the South African Embassy and US State department to travel to South Africa and make a film about the music culture there. I produced a film where I traveled to Jamaica to meet with roots and reggae musicians. I have made music videos and films for artists such as Rhiannon Giddens, Larry & Joe, Ashley Virginia, Kirstie & Galen, Missy Elliot and more. The list keeps on growing everyday. 

2024 is bound to be a good year as I expand my filmmaking team and expand my connections with musicians worldwide. 

I appreciate the faith you had in me many years ago, and look forward to expanding my relationship with music as I grow through my career.   

— Alexei Mejouev