Kevin Collins began his musical studies at the age of seven.  As a high school senior, he was awarded a prize by the Massachusetts Music Teachers Association.  As a freshman at U.Mass., his professors encouraged him to pursue a musical career.  Kevin studied guitar at the Hartt College of Music in West Hartford, Conn. with Richard Provost and performed in masterclasses with Rey de la Torre and Oscar Ghiglia.

Starting in 1973, Kevin participated in the Aspen Music Festival where he studied under Oscar Ghiglia for nine summers.

From 1976 to 1977, he lived in Rochester, New York where he taught at the University of Rochester Wilson Commons program.

In 1977-78, Kevin Collins held the position of Artist-in-Residence at the Austin Symphony.  This included a performance of Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez with Music Director and Conductor Akira Endo and the Austin Symphony.

In 1979-81, Mr. Collins lived year-round in Aspen where he  taught at the Colorado Mountain College and produced the Winter Music Fest featuring local classical musicians.

From 1981 to 1987, Mr. Collins lived in New York City performing classical guitar full-time.  He studied Theory and Composition at Queens College and taught guitar at Columbia University .  Kevin's playing was featured on NBC TV.  Called "warm and entertaining" by New York Times  critic John Canaday, Kevin appeared at Windows on the World in the World Trade Center and at the Rainbow Room in Rockefeller Center.

In 1991, Mr. Collins completed the B.Mus. degree at the Hartt School where special courses included Guitar Teaching Principles and Electric Guitar Styles.

Kevin Collins now resides in Amherst, Mass. and appears throughout the New England area.  He was a semi-finalist in the Artists International Debut Competion in New York.  Kevin's classes at the University of Massachusetts were featured in the Boston Globe Learning section and he recently received a grant from the Massachusetts Arts Council to produce a video series for educational TV.

Recent local appearances include the Northampton First Night with the Arcadia Players, a performance of Boccherini with the Valley Chamber Players and a solo recital at the Deerfield Summer Music Series.  Kevin now lives in Amherst where he teaches for the UMass Performing Arts Division.