About Steve Watson

Prelude Ensemble Director Steve Watson’s professional involvement in the Arts commenced in 1981. As a classically trained bassist, composer and jazz musician, his experience with youth orchestra programs began with his participation as Principal Bassist with both the 1986 Congress of Strings in New York, and the 1988 National Youth Orchestra of Canada. Continuing as a professional orchestral musician in Ottawa and Montreal, Mr. Watson relocated to New York in 1991. He completed a Master of Music Performance degree at the Manhattan School of Music, followed by national and international touring opportunities. A professional studio musician and performer on Broadway, he began teaching inner city classroom music appreciation at the Secondary level in 2000. In 2003 he completed a Master of Sc. Ed degree, and was promoted to Dean of Students at Stevenson High School in the Bronx.

Since 2005, as a producer and entrepreneur, Mr. Watson has co-produced Internet media and Traditional media campaigns for authors and musicians, and has been commissioned to co-author the official biography of a prominent New York business family. In addition, his Music Lab Project, which incorporates computer technology and traditional music performance, has been awarded and supported by the Brockman Playhouse Project in East Hampton, and implemented as the Production Lab Workshop at Bay Street Theatre in Sag Harbor. In addition to his performance and private teaching schedule, Mr. Watson is the Education Director for the East End Arts Council School of the Arts.

Watson’s enthusiastic vision for the Prelude Ensemble and Peconic Youth Orchestra programs at the Southampton Cultural Center is based on his positive experiences with early music education. “The skills and interaction that we learn from music performance nurture every aspect of our thinking activities. In addition to our right-brain/left-brain development, we gain the opportunity to communicate in an ensemble, and to be spontaneous. Even better than that, it’s FUN!”