Eugene and his wife Dr. Vera Oussetskaia-Watanabe are the founders of the Gifted Music School and the GRIT program in public schools.  Since founding, the school has grew from 35 students to over 750+ students today with 55 top level faculty.   As Executive Director and String Area Chair, he leads a synergistic team of faculty, administrators, students and parents, and donors.

As a music educator, Watanabe’s students have regularly gained acceptance to the top music programs (both undergraduate and graduate) in the country including Juilliard, Colburn, New England Conservatory, Cleveland, Michigan, San Francisco, Peabody, Yale, and Manhattan. Prolifically active in training national and international level violinists his students have gone on professional careers as soloists, orchestral musicians, and teachers.  In just the past 8 years, he has sent 6 students to Juilliard, 5 students to Colburn, 2 to Michigan, 3 to San Francisco Conservatory, and all Utah Universities.

His students and chamber groups have been regularly recognized at national solo and chamber competitions as well as international events including the Klein Competition and repeated performances at NPR’s from the Top.  Watanabe achieved a rare double win at the 2019 MTNA Nationals in Spokane having taught the 1st place awardees in both the Junior High and High School categories.

International performance career as a violinist and pianist; frequent lecturer at universities and teacher’s conferences. Performances with Moscow State Symphony Orchestra, Calgary Philharmonic, Hamburg Symphony, Saint Lawrence String Quartet, New Zealand String Quartet, New York String Orchestra at Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, and the Utah Symphony with which he has performed 16 concertos. Solo tours through Europe, Canada, and United States. Major awards at Honens International Competition, Kosciuzko Chopin Competition, Bachauer Young Artist Competition, two-time MTNA National winner, Kingsville Competition. In 2017, Watanabe was awarded the Governor Mansion Artist Award for his work and service to the community.

He was the first student at Curtis to graduate with degrees in piano and violin as a student of Leon Fleisher, Claude Frank, Arnold Steinhardt and chamber studies with Felix Galimir.

Recently he has joyously served as a faculty at Colburn School’s Sounding Point Academy.

Watanbe is a Steinway Artist.