Zachary James Watkins studied composition with Janice Giteck, Jarrad Powell, Robin Holcomb and Jovino Santos Neto at Cornish College. In 2006, he received an MFA in Electronic Music and Recording Media from Mills College where he studied with Chris Brown, Fred Frith, Alvin Curran and Pauline Oliveros. Watkins has received commissions from Cornish College of The Arts, The Microscores Project, the Beam Foundation, Somnubutone Radio Series free103point9.org, sfsound, and the Seattle Chamber Players. He has performed in numerous festivals across the United States, Mexico and Europe. Watkins has been an artist in residence at the Espy Foundation, Djerassi, and the Headlands Center for The Arts.