Biography
New York City based musician Ron Wilkins has been performing on tenor and bass trombones, euphonium, tuba, bass trumpet and vocals for over forty years. He has performed at the highest levels touring around the world with his own groups as well as premiere artists. Ron is a member of the Count Basie Orchestra, Birdland Big Band, Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band, and runs his own New York City big band alongside trombonist Rebecca Patterson which features their writing and includes some of New York City's premiere musicians.
Ron has performed with many theatrical productions including subbing on the Broadway shows Wicked, Motown, Shuffle Along, Frozen, and the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. He has also play with The Big Apple Circus, Ringling Brothers, touring Broadway shows, including West Side Story, The Lion King, Showboat, The Producers, Kinky Boots, Book Of Mormon, and many others.
He was a featured artist on bass and tenor trombones at the International Trombone Festival in 2002 at the University of North Texas.
Ron is a veteran of the USAF Band of the West at Lackland AFB in San Antonio.
Ron also has an extensive background as an educator. He has performed as a guest artist at from the elementary to university levels, jazz festivals, and has maintained his own private studio for decades. He has held positions at several colleges including the University of Texas at San Antonio, University of Incarnate Ward, Texas State University, Texas Lutheran University, Northwest Vista College, St. Mary’s University, teaching low brass, jazz studies, and vocals.
Ron has three cd's as a leader, Trombocalist (2021), A Tribute To The Masters (2000), and The Bundee Brothers Bone Band"(2005) with former Ringling Brothers lead trombonist, Bill Gibson. As of October 2012, he was featured on a live recording with the Frank Wilkins trio (Boston, MA) at the Fishmonger Café in Cape Cod, MA. Ron currently maintains his own private teaching studio and remains a sought after clinician.
Ron is a Shires trombone artist and plays Greg Black Mouthpieces.
