To become an accomplished bassist dedicated to helping young musicians discover their potential, Lynn University alumnus Jeffrey Adkins '09, '11 spent his life perfecting his musical craft. Adkins knew he wanted to pursue a music career from an early age. Nevertheless, he never imagined where this desire would lead him one day.
Finding his sound
Adkins' interest in music was almost inevitable. Music was a staple in his household growing up—his parents didn't have any formal musical training but were avid music lovers. Adkins fondly recalls attending concerts with his father and learning to sing harmonies with his mother to any song on the radio. "I was developing ear training without even realizing it," said Adkins. His musical prowess quickly became apparent to his parents, who strongly supported it.
A native of West Palm Beach, Adkins officially started his musical journey at Palm Beach Public School. Initially, he was part of their chorus but left searching for an activity that catered more to his musical affinity. Following the advice of his director, Andy Matzkow, Adkins joined the strings program, where he fell in love with playing the bass as an eight-year-old. He continued to follow this passion, attending Bak Middle School of the Arts, followed by Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts—the high school that helped him develop his interest in symphony orchestra.
Practice to performance
Upon leaving high school, Adkins pursued a bachelor's and a master's degree in music from Lynn. As he pondered what he wanted to accomplish as a musician, Adkins financially supported himself by teaching music students in his area. He leveraged Lynn's goal-driven atmosphere and high level of musicianship with the guidance of Timothy Cobb, distinguished artist-in-residence.
"I loved that Lynn focused on chamber music," said Adkins. "It teaches musicians what we need to know in the real world, especially for those going into orchestra music."
As part of the Lynn University Conservatory of Music, Adkins admits working on solos and preparing for orchestra was challenging. Still, he was grateful to be a part of the conservatory and admired the leadership of Dr. Jon Robertson, Conservatory of Music dean. "It was a time of tremendous growth and progress at the university," said Adkins. "Every year, the conservatory just got better and better." One of Adkins' biggest highlights at Lynn was playing in the inaugural concert for the Keith C. and Elaine Johnson Wold Performing Arts Center featuring American actress and singer Bernadette Peters.
After Lynn, Adkins worked as a freelance performer, building a diverse portfolio. He performed with the Palm Beach Symphony and the Symphony of the Americas and could now serve as a substitute for any orchestra within the region. Adkins supported Icelandic pop singer Björk and flute player Sir James Galway, proving his versatility. He also recorded for many Latin artists, including Bad Bunny and Gloria Estefan.
A music mentor
While working as a freelance musician, Adkins continued teaching students. His origins as a teacher started due to a need for bass instructors in the South Florida region. Adkins began receiving opportunities to teach at some of his alma maters in a classroom setting. Adkins grew to love teaching, defining his position as orchestral director at Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts as one of his most significant accomplishments.
Wanting the best for music students, Adkins encourages them to keep an open mind and consume as much music as possible. His number one piece of advice is a lesson he learned when he first arrived at Lynn: "If you want to be a musician today," said Adkins. "You have to be multifaceted and commit to making music with joy because having music in your life is the reward."
Living by this advice, Adkins balances his teaching role while nurturing his artistic needs, particularly building his conducting skills. Though it can be challenging, Adkins reveals that teaching students the wonders of orchestra fuels him as a musician.
In November, the Lynn Conservatory of Music honored Adkins at the Fifth Annual Alumni Recital in the Wold Performing Arts Center. Adkins made his debut from the podium with the Dreyfoos Philharmonic. The program provided a platform to acknowledge the young musicians and their work at the Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts. Though Adkins wants the spotlight on his students, he expresses immense gratitude for being honored by Lynn. "Lynn and the faculty made me the musician I am today."
