Invite Dr. Lomax to Speak at your next event!

Dr. Mark Lomax, II
Composer | Drummer | Educator | Activist | Thought Leader

Dr. Mark Lomax, II operates at the intersection of avant-garde art, systemic change, and cultural transformation. With a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) in classical composition from The Ohio State University and over three decades of professional musicianship, Dr. Lomax translates the precise dynamics of ensemble performance into actionable frameworks for executive leadership, corporate trust, and radical humanity.

By framing systemic issues through the lenses of rhythm, alignment, and collective healing, Dr. Lomax delivers high-impact keynotes that resonate across corporate boardrooms, Ivy League lecture halls, and major philanthropic spaces.

Signature Keynote Offerings

1. Activating the Transformative Power of Trust

  • Target Audience: Fortune 500 Executives, Corporate Leadership, Philanthropic Foundations, Systemic Change Agents.
  • Core Framework: Trust is not a passive sentiment; it is an active, structural necessity for innovation. Drawing from his journey as a prodigy playing professional gospel and jazz by age twelve, and referencing masterworks like John Coltrane’s *A Love Supreme*, Dr. Lomax breaks down the three imperative steps of transformation: trusting oneself, building trust within the collective ensemble, and deploying that trust into unified action.
  • Key Takeaway: Corporate leaders leave with a concrete "ensemble mindset" framework to mitigate workplace discord, build psychological safety, and catalyze organizational pivots through high-trust architecture.

2. Rhythm: Optimizing Our Groove

  • Target Audience: HR Leaders, DEI Executives, Multi-Disciplinary Creators, Large-Scale Conventions.
  • Core Framework: Rhythm functions as the fundamental, stabilizing force of existence—from microscopic atomic movement to macroscopic organizational workflows. When individuals or corporate teams fall out of alignment with their core purpose, operational friction occurs. Dr. Lomax explores how to transition organizations away from structural division and toward shared, intentional operational rhythms.
  • Key Takeaway: A masterclass in organizational synchronization, showing how to align individual creative agency with macro corporate objectives to build an inclusive, high-performing culture.

3. Writing Ourselves into the Future: Lessons from “400: An African Epic”

  • Target Audience: Higher Education Institutions, Cultural Centers, Arts & Humanities Frameworks, Social Justice Forums.
  • Core Framework: Grounded in his critically acclaimed 12-album cycle, curriculum, and documentary, “400: An African Epic”, Dr. Lomax unpacks a massive historical and sociological timeline spanning pre-colonial Africa, the trauma of the Ma'afa (the Transatlantic Slave Trade), and a forward-facing Afro-futuristic vision of healing.
  • Key Takeaway: An exploration of how communities can leverage art, storytelling, and human-centered design to actively dismantle systemic trauma and construct an equitable future over the next 400 years.

Executive Profile & Credentials

  • Academic Rigor: Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) in Classical Composition and Music Theory from The Ohio State University.
  • Corporate & Institutional Impact: Trusted speaker for global brands and major institutions including Bath & Body Works, DSW (Designer Brands), United Way, the Progressive Education Network, the Wexner Center for the Arts, Syracuse University, and the University of Michigan.
  • Artistic Mastery: Acclaimed recording artist with over 40 albums released (including the monumental 12-album cycle “400: An African Epic”). Collaborated with jazz icons such as Clark Terry, Bennie Maupin, Azar Lawrence, Nicholas Payton, and the Marsalis family (Ellis and Delfeayo).
  • Corporate Leadership: CEO of CFG Multimedia, driving multidisciplinary artistic production, brand narrative, and educational product development aimed at elevating radical humanity. Experience in philanthropy (community foundations) and nonprofit work.
  • Major Fellowships & Commissions: Recipient of prestigious awards and commissions from Chamber Music America, the Mellon Foundation, the Johnstone Fund for New Music, and the Ohio Arts Council. Works performed globally, including at Carnegie Hall and by the London Symphony Orchestra.

Critical Acclaim & Media

"Lomax is the rare drummer who leaves you wanting more, leading his bandmates through a strikingly terse, brilliantly counterintuitive and ultimately joyous series of explorations." — Lucid Culture

“Mark is an absolute experimentalist... and this huge, deep project will look at the legacy of jazz from the past all the way to the future.”— Lane Czaplinski, Performing Arts Director

"Forceful drumming that "would have made Elvin Jones proud."— Jazz Times 

Speaking Logistics & Contact

Dr. Mark Lomax, II is available for select corporate keynotes, panel moderation, university residencies, and integrated lecture-performances worldwide.

  • Origin Point: Columbus, Ohio, USA
  • Formats Available: In-Person Keynotes, Virtual Mainstage Events, Executive Retreat Moderation, Fireside Chats.
  • Booking & Representation Management:
    • Concert & Speaking Representation: Tiffany Cooper | meaninfgulconnections513@gmail.com | 513-646-6017
    • Press & Media Inquiries:  Ben Weiss | bweiss@400anafrikanepic.org