Frank Watkins

Frank A. Watkins joins the faculty of Arizona State University in fall 2025 as Associate Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities. His primary responsibilities include conducting the Concert Choir and teaching classes in choral literature, score study, and conducting. Prior to his appointment at ASU, Watkins served as Director of Choral Activities at the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire. 

Watkins is in demand as guest conductor and clinician. In 2016, he was appointed Conductor and Music Director of the Eau Claire Chamber Orchestra. Recent engagements include the Big Nine Festival Honor Choir, the Great Northern Conference All- Conference Choir, Cloverbelt All-Conference Honor Choir, the 2018 Men’s Choir Festival, Big 8 Choral Festival, Northwest Suburban Conference Choir, the 2021 Wisconsin School Music Association State Honors Mixed Choir, and the 2022 Wisconsin Choral Directors All-State Treble Choir. He has presented workshops on choral methods for the International Music and Christian Arts Conference, Michigan State University, and the Ohio State University. He has presented workshops at both the Wisconsin Music Educators State Convention and the National Collegiate Choral Organization National Conference. Watkins is an active teacher and culture sharer with Village Harmony, having taught workshops on Black Gospel Music in the United States, Republic of Georgia, Canada, and South Africa. 

Choirs under his direction have performed at the Wisconsin Music Educators State Conference (2018; 2023), Wisconsin Choral Directors Association State Conference (2023), the North Central Divisional Conference of the American Choral Directors Association (2020), and the Midwestern Divisional Conference of the American Choral Directors Association (2024).

Watkins' research interests include the intersectionality of race, class, and gender in the music of African-American Women in the 21st century and the use of intercultural music education as a catalyst for social change. In 2017, Watkins led an International Fellows Program trip to Dakar, Senegal to study the use of hip-hop and rap as a form of non-violent political protest. In 2018, Watkins led a subsequent International Fellows Program trip to Dakar, Senegal to study the use of music in the fight against colorism. In 2023, Watkins presented workshops on Black Gospel music in Polokwani and Cape Town, South Africa.  

A native of Omaha Nebraska, Watkins taught secondary choral music in Texas for six years. He holds degrees in piano performance from Jackson State University (BM), the University of Arkansas (MM), and choral conducting from Northwestern University (MM) and Michigan State University (DMA).

A dynamic young conductor, Watkins’ love and passion are teaching. He believes that in order to educate, you must first inspire! It is his goal to make an impact…not just an impression on the lives of those that follow his baton.