Kevin Watkins has been a member of the Minnesota Orchestra percussion section since 1999.

Prior to joining Minnesota, Kevin was member of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic for two seasons. A native of Kansas City, he studied at Oberlin Conservatory of Music with Michael Rosen, and then at Cleveland State University with Tom Freer. During that time, he performed at the Aspen, Schleswig-Holstein, and Music Academy of the West summer festivals.

He frequently performs in the Minnesota Orchestra chamber music series as well as its Kinder Konzert program. He has also performed with the Atlanta Symphony and the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, and can be heard on recordings by BIS, Reference Recordings, and Opus One.

He endorses Pearl/Adams instruments, Zildjian cymbals, and Freer Percussion sticks and mallets.