Originally from Circle Pines, Minnesota, Bill has been playing saxophone since age 9. He holds degrees in saxophone performance from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and the Eastman School of Music. While at Eastman Bill performed with such diverse groups as the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and the Gap Mangione Big Band. Bill taught the undergraduate saxophone methods class, was a featured soloist with the Wind Orchestra on Paul Creston’s Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Band, and was principle saxophonist with the Wind Ensemble’s 2004 Asia Tour.
While at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Bill served as lead alto, tenor, and baritone saxophonist of the award winning Jazz Ensemble I. He performed with such artists as Slide Hampton, Peter Erskine, Jon Faddis, Lewis Nash, and Chris Botti, and recorded five CD’s with the group, three of which were winners of the “Best College Big Band” student music award from DownBeat Magazine. In 2002 Bill was the winner of DownBeat's “Best Classical Soloist" Student Music Award.
Bill has worked as a musician aboard Princess and Holland America Cruise ships in Alaska, the Carribean, and the Baltic Sea. He spent two summers in Los Angeles, California attending the Henry Mancini Institute where he performed with such artists as Herbie Hancock, Quincy Jones, Christian McBride, Eddie Daniels, Randy Brecker, and the New York Voices.
Currently Bill lives with his wife Aimee in Minneapolis, MN where he teaches at McNally Smith College of Music, the MacPhail Center for Music, and the St. Paul Conservatory of Music. He has performed with the Minnesota Orchestra, Minnesota Opera, Vocalessence, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Wolverines Big Band, and Five By Design. He has played in the pit for shows at the Guthrie, Ordway, Orpheum, Childrens Theatre, and Chanhassen Dinner Theatre.