Kelly Watkins

On Sunday, March 14, Musician First Class Kelly Watkins performed as a soloist with the United States Coast Guard Band in New London, Connecticut. Her performance of Nightsongs by Richard Peaslee (arr. Chuck Dotas) was a part of the US Coast Guard Band’s Soloist Celebration concert held in Leamy Hall on the campus of the US Coast Guard Academy.

Ms. Watkins became a member of the trumpet section of the United States Coast Guard Band in February of 2003 and is also a member of the Coast Guard Brass Quintet. In June 2003, she was awarded the Grand Prize in the International Women’s Brass Conference Solo Competition. In addition, she has been awarded prizes in the 2001 and 2002 International Trumpet Guild Solo Competitions and the 2002 National Trumpet Competition. She holds a bachelor of music degree from Northwestern State University and a master of music degree from Illinois State University.
MU1 Watkins has been a member of the Illinois State University Faculty Brass Quintet, the Illinois Symphony Orchestra, the Peoria Symphony Orchestra, and has performed with Opera Illinois and the Shreveport Symphony. Ms. Watkins has attended the Sewanee Summer Music Center and Festival in Sewanee, Tennessee, and the Lake Placid International Trumpet Institute in Lake Placid, New York. Her principal teachers include Galindo Rodriguez and Amy Gilreath.

Website:
United States Coast Guard Band