Prof. Dan Wilkins

Dan Wilkins, jazz saxophonist, pianist and composer hails from the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania. Wilkins writes and arranges music, with four albums out as a leader featuring his original music and arrangements - Moonglow (2024, Deer Head Records), Horizons Quartet (2021, PM Records), Awake (2015, Minsi Ridge Records), To Oceans Beyond the Sky (2025, Each and Only, piano trio album). His quartet performs at regional venues, such as Smalls Jazz Club, Miller Symphony Hall, the Deer Head Inn, Lafayette Bar, Vic’s Jazz Loft, and Chris’ Jazz Cafe, as well as festivals like Delaware Water Gap’s COTA Jazz Festival, Kennet Flash Jazz Festival, and yearly at Bethlehem’s Musikfest.

Wilkins current project - The Dan Wilkins Quartet features revered drummer Bill Goodwin, pianist Jon Ballantyne, and bassist Adrian Moring, joined by special guests trumpeter Chris Rogers, and bass clarinetist, Griffin Woodard, performing arrangements of well known Jazz repertoire reimagined by Wilkins. By contrast his project, Horizons Quartet primarily features Wilkins’ original music, with pianist and co-leader James Collins, legendary bassist Gene Perla, and drummer Byron Landham.

Wilkins also performs regularly with his father, pianist Skip Wilkins, touring internationally in the Czech Republic, Berlin and Greece. They have four albums out together with a fifth in production, most recently with their quartet, In the Stars (Deer Head Records, 2022) featuring bassist Tony Marino and drummer Bill Goodwin. This current project focuses on lesser played repertoire from the Great American Songbook.

Wilkins has also notably performed alongside drummers - Adam Nussbaum, John Riley, Jimmy Macbride, Joe Peri, Kush Abadey, Jeff Hirshfield. Trumpeters - John Swana, Benny Benack, Josh Lawrence. Pianists - Jim Ridl, Steven Feifke, Dave Lantz. Bassists - Scott Lee, Jay Anderson, Daryl Johns.

Wilkins graduated Bmus in 2013 from Manhattan School of Music, studying from saxophonists Steve Wilson and Rich Perry, and with harmony composition lessons from Phil Markowitz, and Garry Dial. Prior to college studies Wilkins studied from NEA Master David Liebman, and his wife Caris Liebman, as well as longtime saxophone teacher Neil Wetzel. Wilkins teaches at Kutztown University, Moravian University, Lafayette College and Muhlenberg College, as well as maintaining his own private studio. He also coaches youth jazz groups through Moravian University. Summer workshops where Wilkins has taught include - Czech Jazz Workshop, Kryoneri Jazz Workshop, and Moravian University Youth Jazz Camp.