Andrew Watkins has served as the Assistant Principal Timpanist and Section Percussionist with the San Diego Symphony since February 2010. A native of Champaign, Illinois, he began his percussion studies at the age of twelve. He completed his Bachelor of Music degree at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with William Moersch and Ricardo Flores and went on to receive his Master of Music degree at the Chicago College of Performing Arts under the tutelage of Ed Harrison and Vadim Karpinos. He furthered his post-graduate education at the New England Conservatory with Will Hudgins and later at Lynn University with Ted Atkatz.
During his studies, Mr. Watkins was a participant at the Tanglewood Music Festival in 2007 and the Pacific Music Festival Orchestra in 2009. He has performed with orchestras worldwide, including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Lyric Opera, Hyogo Performing Arts Center Orchestra and the New World Symphony. An active performer in the San Diego area, Watkins has performed with local ensembles such as Art of Élan and Luscious Noise.
OrchestraSan Diego SymphonyTitleAssistant Principal Timpanist and Section Percussionist
