Biography

Kennith Watts, Jr. is a seasoned audio engineer and music enthusiast who earned his Bachelors of Arts in General Music with a Double Concentration in Recording Technology and Trombone Performance from the University of North Carolina Wilmington. His expertise in pageantry design and audio engineering is as dynamic as his passion for music, as evidenced by his diverse roles in the field.

As a trombonist, Kennith remains an active performer, lending his talents to various groups such as the UNCW Office of Cultural Arts, Cape Fear Theatre Arts, Thalian Association, and Carolina Gold Performing Ensembles. Post-graduation, he showcased his trombone skills as a guest musician for the UNC Wilmington Wind Symphony, Chamber Winds, and Wilmington Symphony Orchestra.

Kennith's journey in music performance and education extends to his roles with Carolina Gold Drum and Bugle Corps, where he served in the hornline, battery, and as Head Drum Major for several years. His dedication to the art led him to co-found and become an Assistant Director and Media Advisor for Alchemy Independent Percussion Ensemble, under the Carolina Gold Performing Arts umbrella. His commitment to teaching is evident in his work with high school band programs, offering instruction in conducting, brass, percussion, and visual elements. He created Gauntlet Marching Design to provide high level services like composition, design coordination, and audio consultation to marching programs nationwide. 

In the realm of audio engineering, Kennith has made significant strides. Starting as the UNCW Event Recording Manager in 2012, he played a crucial role in developing the applied music technology track. His journey continued at UNCW's Kenan Auditorium as an A1 Audio Engineer in 2017. In recognition of his outstanding work, he joined the audio team at CFCC's The Wilson Center in 2019 as a Lead Audio Technician and assumed the position of Head of Audio in 2022. His teams actively collaborate with nationally touring, headlining artists, Broadways, and shows, and Kennith leverages his skills to strengthen and elevate their audio experience. To expand in working with more professional acts, Kennith joined IATSE Union 417 to work at Live Oak Bank’s Riverfront Amphitheatre as a Department Head focused in Audio. This new venue is the home of LiveNation tours, staff, and logistics which play to crowds all over the world. The experience and connections here helped him understand the full process and capability that is available in supporting artists all over the world. From this, Kennith moved back into the marching world and joined the audio team for the Boston Crusaders in 2022, serving as a second A1 Percussion Operator and Systems Analyst, and returned in 2023 serving as a Lead Engineer, and now serves as the Audio Caption Manager. In the fall of 2024, Kennith moved to Raleigh to join the technical staff at North Carolina State University as an Assistant Technical Director - Audio Specialist for University Theatre Event Operations. All of this experience has helped him to increase the audio fidelity for the events for their three venues while teaching audio techniques to students working all over campus.

Beyond his professional pursuits, Kennith enjoys photography, cooking, sports, comedy, and traveling. In his leisure time, he cherishes moments spent with friends and family, creating and sharing good times. Kennith's multifaceted music expertise and passion for audio engineering continue to shape the landscape of music and performance.