[5] Wilkins was born in Norfolk, Virginia and grew-up in a housing project, the son of a single mother and welfare recipient.
[4] His inspiration to become an orchestra conductor came from a performance of The Star-Spangled Banner he attended when he was eight years old.
He has served as a guest conductor for the Philadelphia and Cleveland Orchestras, the Symphonies of Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Baltimore, San Diego, Seattle, Louisiana, North Carolina, and Utah.
He has also conducted performances with the Buffalo and Rochester Philharmonics, the Grant Park Music Festival in Chicago, and others.
He also serves as the national ambassador for the non-profit World Pediatric Project, headquartered in Richmond, Virginia.