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Bill
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Background:
Bill Yeager has a diverse musical background, both as a performer and
educator. He is a Professor of Music and Director of Jazz Studies at San
Diego State University and is a well-known studio/jazz trombonist performing
on hundreds of records films, TV shows and commercials.
Bill has performed with such artists as Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald,
Tony Bennett, Sarah Vaughn, Mel Torme and Dizzy Gillespie to name a few,
and has toured throughout the world.
He as played in practically every big band in the LA/San Diego area including
long time associations with Louie Bellson and Les Brown. Before coming
to San Diego, Bill was founder/director of the highly acclaimed Los Angeles
Jazz Workshop where he recorded three very successful albums and received
a Grammy nomination.
Since coming to SDSU, he, along with Rick Helzer and Eddie Meadows, have
built the largest jazz program in California (eight jazz performance groups),
offering both a Bachelor and Masters degree in Jazz Studies. His groups
are considered some of the best in the country, and have recorded three
top notch albums.
His Jazz Ensemble #1 has won the National Collegiate Jazz Competition
in Orlando, Fl and has been featured at the Monterey Jazz Festival at
Sea, as well as numerous first place awards at many jazz festivals.
Bill is an active composer, writing for both jazz and classical ensembles.
He is a much sought after clinician/performer for college and high school
festivals across the country and has conducted many All-State Honor Groups.
Bill received his Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from North Texas
State University, where he was lead trombone in the famous One
O'clock Lab Band.
Teaching Experience:
9/85 to present DIRECTOR
OF JAZZ STUDIES - PROFESSOR OF MUSIC
* Conductor of Jazz Ensembles
* Conductor of Vocal Jazz Ensembles
* Instructor of Jazz History and Appreciation
* Private Trombone Instruction
* Instructor of Jazz Combos
1/79 to 9/85 FOUNDER/DIRECTOR/OWNER - LOS ANGELES JAZZ WORKSHOP
* Conducting Five Jazz Ensembles
* Instructor for Improvisation, Jazz Sightreading, Jazz Theory
* Conducting Supersax and Trombone Ensembles
* Teaching a Conducting Class for High School and College Band Directors
* Budgeting, Hiring, and Faculty Supervision
* Private Trombone Instruction
1/77 to 1/79 DIRECTOR OF INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC, GROVE SCHOOL OF
MUSIC -LOS ANGELES
* Conductor of Two Jazz Ensembles
* Conductor for Studio Orchestra
* Founded Professional Instrumental Music Program (mapped curricula)
* Instructor for Improvisation, Sightreading, Modern Harmony
* Private Trombone Instruction
GUEST ARTIST/CLINIC/ADJUDICATION EXPERIENCE:
* Playboy Jazz Festival
* Southern California Jazz Festival (Chaffey College)
* Fullerton Jazz Festival
* San Diego City College Jazz Festival
* Aurex Jazz Festival (Tokyo, Yokohama
* North Texas State University, Denton, Texas
* Central Washington State University
* National Stage Band Camps
* El Camino College
* Michigan State University
* College of Sequoias, Visalia, California
* Arizona All-State High School Jazz Festival
* North Sea Jazz Festival (Holland)
* Montreux Jazz Festival (Switzerland)
* California All State Band
* Vancouver, British Columbia Jazz Festival
* Oklahoma All-State Band
* Cal Poly Jazz Festival, Pomona, California
* University of Northern Colorado
* Idyllwild School of Music and the Arts
* Wide World of Music Festival International
* Western Washington State University
* CSU, Long Beach, San Bernardino, Fresno, Bakersfield & Los Angeles
* Santa Barbara Jazz Festival
* Hemet High School
* 12 local San Diego high schools
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
BIG BANDS ARTISTS
COMPANIES:
Louis Bellson Frank Sinatra ABC Television
Les Brown Ella Fitzgerald NBC Television
Bob Florence Tony Bennett CBS Television
Bill Holman Mel Torme PBS Television
Bill Watrous Grover Washington, Jr. Warner Communications
Don Menza Ray Charles Columbia Records
Steve Spiegl Sarah Vaughn Turner Broadcasting
Billy May Carmen McRae Discovery Records
Pat Longo Shelly Manne Sea Breeze/Pausa Records
Ed Schannessey Ray Brown HBO, Inc.
Ashley Alexander Kenny Burrell MGM Studios
Dallas Symphony Orch. Nancy Wilson MCA Records
San Diego Sym. Orch. Johnny Mathis Walt Disney Co.,
Four Tops A&M Records
George Shearing, et al. Universal Studios
Columbia Pictures, et al.
RECORDS: TELEVISION/FILMS/JINGLES:
Les Brown (three) Mel Torme Special
Ray Charles (two) Merv Griffin Show
Pat Longo Bob Hope Show
Frank Sinatra Jr. Rich Little Show
(Billy May) Rocky III and IV
Steve Spiegl (two) Cannonball Run I and II
Ashley Alexander (three) Apple Computer
(in addition to playing Budweiser
background on many Computer One
pop records.)
SPECIAL PROJECTS:
1983 to 1984 Co-producer, mixer, director and soloist "Stan's Donuts"
(Sea Breeze Records 2021) Los Angeles Jazz Workshop. Most played big band
album on Los
Angeles' Jazz Station KKGO.
1982 to 1985 Founder/Director of "A Summer Jazz Clinic at El Camino
College". Coordinated
and developed curricula for 100+ students. Budgeting, scheduling, and
hiring
instructors. Conducted top jazz band.
1980 to 1985 Organized and performed bi-monthly concerts at Carmelo's
Jazz Club and at
At My Place Jazz Club in Los Angeles.
1985 to present Member of San Diego Brass Consort.
1986 Co-producer, mixer, director and soloist "Shopwork Shuffle"
(Discovery
Records) Los Angeles Jazz Workshop.
1987 Co-producer, mixer, director and soloist "Medium Basie Swing"
(Discovery
Compact Disc) Los Angeles Jazz Workshop.
1988 SDSU Jazz Ensemble wins "National Collegiate Jazz Competition"
sponsored
by Walt Disney World and NAJE.
1989 Local Chairman for NAJE's National Convention with SDSU Jazz Ensemble
featured on main stage with world class artists.
1989 Outstanding Faculty Award, San Diego State University
1989 Producer, director, and soloist "Don't Make Noise" SDSU
Jazz Ensemble
(Discovery Compact Disc and Tape) "Grammy" nominee.
1990 Producer, director "Live at Montreux", CD and TV special
of the SDSU Jazz
Ensemble in Switzerland.
1992-93 President, International Association of Jazz Educators (California).
1993 Director of SDSU Jazz Ensemble Tour of Taiwan (3 concerts and one
lecture).
1993 Published 5-CD/Cassettes "Anthology of Jazz" already used
in major U.S.
Universities.
1995 Director, "Three Steps Ahead", SDSU Jazz Ensemble to be
released in 1996.