Alumni Spotlight: Tyrone Marcell Wilkins Jr. '19

Since childhood, alumnus Tyrone Marcell Wilkins Jr. '19 has been crafting melodies with his favorite instrument — his violin. Now, he's turning his musical talents into a professional career in the arts.

 

Wilkins has made a name for himself in the music industry as a multi-genre violinist, producer, songwriter and recording artist. His talents have allowed him to dabble in every area of music that he can. His notable accomplishments include releasing his original work, performing at the Pinterest headquarters in San Francisco and touring as a featured soloist with Orchestra Noir — Atlanta's award-winning African American orchestra. 

 

Even though his passion for the violin started at a young age, Wilkins grew his craft when he attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. "My best friend told me about all of the musical people that were there and how I would love them. [The University] also had the major I was looking for too," Wilkins said.

He decided to study music media in the School of Music and Performing Arts to get performance experience and learn about the business and technical sides of the music industry. "The more I went through college, the more I understood that I could do so many different avenues with music. It made me realize that I loved the entire process of making music," Wilkins said. 

 

He didn't waste any time taking the skills he learned in the classroom and putting them into action. Wilkins recorded his first EP, "Love Language," in his dorm room in Baker Hall. He also started sharing violin covers of his favorite songs on social media, which sparked attention from Grammy award-winning artists such as SZA and Miguel. Wilkins continued using social media to promote his work after graduation, leading him to perform at weddings, corporate events and eventually on his largest stage yet with Orchestra Noir. 

 

The highly acclaimed Atlanta-based orchestra noticed Wilkins' skills online and knew they needed to have him perform with their group. "They initially found me on Instagram because they were looking for additional string players for a special concert," Wilkins said. After discussing the details, he jumped at the chance to perform with the orchestra in Atlanta for a special concert featuring Rick Ross. This performance would be the largest audience he had ever played for, but Wilkins was ready to take his moment on the big stage. "When I started playing my violin solo and heard the crowd cheer, it was amazing. It felt fulfilling, rewarding and electric all at the same time," Wilkins said. Now, he regularly performs and tours with the group, sharing his violin talents with the entire country.

 

Wilkins has already accomplished so much in his music career, yet he still has big plans for his future in the industry. "I'd love to one day score a film, write a number one hit song, win a Grammy and play for a Broadway musical," Wilkins said. With his talent and perseverance, he has an extremely bright future ahead as a musician. No matter where his journey in the industry may take him, he's destined to continue creating beautiful works of art — one string at a time.