About Mrs. Watkins

Marie Watkins’ biography

Mrs. Watkins retired in May, 2020 after 31 years of being a full-time band director in the public schools of Colorado.  She taught grades 5 - 12 during a career that went from Brush to Brighton to Highlands Ranch and eventually to Powell Middle School in Littleton Public Schools.  Mrs. Watkins holds degrees in music education from Wichita State University and from the University of Northern Colorado.  She is a member of the National Association for Music Education, the Colorado Music Educators Association, the Colorado Bandmasters Association, and the American School Bandmasters Association. 

Throughout her career, Mrs. Watkins’ concert and jazz bands received Superior Ratings at many festivals around the state, including at CHSAA Concert Band Festivals, Colorado Bandmasters Association Middle School Festival,  the Legend High School Jazz Festival, the Durango Four Corners Festival of Music, and the Cavalcade of Music Festival in Colorado Springs.  

Mrs. Watkins continues to be in demand as a clinician for honor bands and for school bands and as an adjudicator for solo and small ensemble festivals and large group festivals.

Post-retirement has meant doing some other things musically.  Mrs. Watkins is the conductor of the Concert Band of the Colorado Honor Band.  She is also teaching Beginning and Intermediate Band classes for  Northridge Elementary in Highlands Ranch, as part of the Douglas County before/after school music program sponsored by the Colorado Chamber Orchestra.  Mrs. Watkins is the woodwind specialist for the four middle schools in Littleton Public Schools.  She also has taught or is currently teaching woodwinds at Heritage High School, Dakota Ridge High School, and Ken Caryl Middle School. Lastly, Mrs. Watkins has re-started her private lesson studio, teaching private woodwind, brass, percussion, and piano lessons out of her home studio.

Mrs. Watkins continues to perform professionally on clarinet and bassoon and has performed with the Colorado Wind Ensemble, the Littleton Symphony, the Regis University Community Band, Quintessential Winds woodwind quintet, the Highlands Ranch Concert Band, and in the pit orchestra with Ovation West Performing Arts in Evergreen.  

Mrs. Watkins resides in Littleton with her husband, Steve and their dog, Ellie.  They have four grown children.  She enjoys gardening, hiking, and traveling when she’s not doing something related to music.  She's also a big sports fan, especially of the Nuggets, Avalanche, and even our Rockies, as you can see from her photo below with her favorite player, Charlie Blackmon.