Dave Watkins is a musician, composer, and audio/visual artist living in Richmond, VA. He is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University and holds a BFA in Theatrical Design and Technology. While at VCU, he specialized in sound, video, and in devising experimental movement-based theatre pieces. Since graduating in 2007 he has become heavily involved with Richmond's music scene as both a performer and an engineer and has produced a number of releases for other Richmond artists in addition to his own solo work.

 As a musician he grew up playing guitar, but by complete chance he came across an acoustic dulcitar built by Bill Neely of Damascus, VA in 2007 and it changed everything. The instrument is strung and fretted similarly to a traditional Appalachian Mountain Dulcimer, but designed to be played like a guitar.  Dave began working the instrument into his live shows and it quickly became an audience favorite due to its unique yet inviting sound.

 Wanting a broader sonic palette, Dave began designing and building electric dulcitars based on the original instrument but with expanded string counts and unique performance oriented features. He can be found both on the stage and in the studio, coaxing a multitude of sounds out of his collection of dulcitars, with assorted effects and loop pedals, and often blending them with a backdrop of percussion and synth elements. 

 He also  works  for Richmond Ballet as  Audio/Visual Supervisor where he strives to help preserve the legacy of dance by collaborating with choreographers and artistic staff to optimize and restore music for existing ballets, and to bring the auditory and visual elements of the company's new works to life through sound design, composition and live engineering.