William Hill

William Hill has been critically acclaimed internationally as a composer, soloist, visual artist, recording artist, and conductor. Currently he is Principal Timpanist and Composer with the Colorado Symphony and Music Director of the Evergreen Chamber Orchestra. He retired in June 2020 after a distinguished career as a composition teacher at Denver University’s Lamont School of Music. Hill has served as a composer with the National Music Festival, Ohio Chamber Orchestra, Denver Chamber orchestra, Cheyenne Symphony, Colorado Music Festival, Strings in the Mountains Festival, Grand Rapids Symphony, Denver Public Schools, Moravian Philharmonic, Colorado and Denver Symphonies, Academy in the Wilderness Chamber Orchestra, Evergreen Chamber Orchestra, and the Nova Series of Salt Lake City. He has performed as Principal Timpanist with the Honolulu, Omaha, and Colorado Symphonies, the Colorado Music Festival, Grand Teton Music Festival, and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra.

Mr. Hill has performed across the US and in numerous European countries and China. His more than 200 compositions are regularly performed and have been recorded by orchestras, chamber groups, and world music and jazz groups in settings from concert halls to clubs to outdoor and even street corner locations. The compositions cover a wide range of styles from symphonies, to experimental and improvisational pieces, to works combining acoustic instruments with various synthesizers and other electronic effects. Hill’s long and successful music career has been a constant balancing act between composing, performing, conducting, and teaching, and he still enjoys it immensely.

Hill was appointed as Music Director of the Evergreen Chamber Orchestra in 2014 after guest conducting them the two previous seasons. He has conducted the Colorado Symphony in concerts and recordings, Denver Chamber Orchestra, Greeley Chamber Orchestra, Lone Tree Symphony, Aurora Symphony, various chamber groups at the Grand Teton Music Festival, and other local professional and amateur groups.

Since his appointment the Evergreen Chamber Orchestra has quadrupled its budget, and the number of events and concerts it performs, added collaborations with the Evergreen Chorale and other artistic organizations, instituted a Young Artists Competition, rejuvenated the Board and other support groups, and garnered sponsorships from LIV Sotheby’s International Realty, Evergreen Newspapers, and others. During the 2020 pandemic the ECO produced 50 short Musical Moments performances (many featuring Bill and other Hill family members) that are on You Tube, Facebook and other internet sites. The ECO created and produced a full Virtual Holiday Event with music, (much of it right from the Hills’ living room), story telling, and other festivities.

Mr. Hill’s programming for the Evergreen Chamber Orchestra takes its core repertoire from the time honored classical masterworks by composers like Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, Bach, Handel, Vivaldi, and Mendelssohn. New works include a world premiere most seasons either by Hill or other fine local composers, First chair players from the ECO are often soloists, and other soloists are some of the stars from the Denver area like first chair players from the Colorado Symphony, award winning singers, and teaching artists from local universities.

William Hill’s Three Wings for Orchestra with Soprano (featuring soprano Nadya Hill) opened the 2018 Colorado Symphony Masterworks series and drew standing ovations and rave reviews from Music Director Brett Mitchell, the musicians, and audience. Other recent compositions include Soundscape for Electronics and Orchestra by Colin and William Hill premiered in 2017 with Mr. Hill conducting the Evergreen Chamber Orchestra, Metamorphosis for Solo Marimba and Orchestra with the composer as soloist and the Lone Tree Symphony in 2016, El Perro Azul for Solo Violin and Orchestra premiered in 2015 with Nadya Hill violin and the Evergreen Chamber Orchestra, and video music for Oh! Heck! Yeah! which Mr. Hill composed, conducted and recorded with the CSO in 2014.

The Raven for large orchestra, chorus and electronic chorus (on the E. A. Poe text) was commissioned by the Colorado Symphony for performances in March 2015. The Raven drew long standing ovations and excellent critical reviews and was nominated for the Pulitzer and Grawemeyer Awards. Hill was commissioned by the Colorado Symphony to compose, conduct, and record music for the opening of the renovated Union Station in July 2014. Passages for large orchestra, electronics and soprano, (another collaboration with Colin Hill and Nadya Hill) was recorded by the Colorado Symphony in 2022 with Hill conducting. Three Tangos was commissioned for performances with the Evergreen Chamber Orchestra in 2022. From Silence and Isolation premiered in 2021 and Symphony #4 in Classical Style premiered in 2022 with the Evergreen Chamber Orchestra. Concerto for Viola, Strings, Harp, and Percussion (commissioned for Colorado Symphony Principal Violist Basil Vendryes) premiered in 2023, and Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra (commissioned for Jamie Shaak) premiered in 2024, both wilth Hill conducting the Evergreen Chamber Orchestra.

The Grand Rapids Symphony with Music Director David Lockington opened its 2010 Classical Masters Series with William Hill’s tone poem Aurora Borealis. The success of this led to an invitation to be guest composer and curator for the first concert of the Grand Rapids Symphony’s highly successful MusicNow Series in October 2013. Mr. Hill’s Percussion Concerto, was premiered by the Colorado Symphony Orchestra in May 2006 with Peter Oundjian conducting and the composer as soloist. It was received by long standing ovations and superb critical acclaim. The Moravian Philharmonic of the Czech Republic recorded four of his orchestral compositions for Albany Records, and these 2 CDs were released in the Spring of 2007. Hill’s award winning Jazz/Latin/ Fusion group has released 2 CDs and one DVD, and his World Music from Raccoon Hollar released a CD and DVD in 2015.

The theatric overture A New Direction was commissioned for the Gala Opening of Denver’s Buell Theatre, and Hill was recognized by Governor Romer for his contribution to the event. He has been chosen four times as a winner in the Percussive Arts Society International Composition Contest, and has won prizes and commissions from Meet the Composer, the Colorado Music Teacher’s National Association, the Denver Foundation, ASCAP, the Grand Rapids Symphony, and many others. Mr. Hill has performed and composed on several Grammy nominated recordings.

A multi-instrumentalist, William Hill has been featured with numerous orchestras as a soloist on timpani, marimba, vibraphone, drum set, ethnic percussion, and multiple percussion concertos. He is equally at home in classical, jazz, pop, folk, and world music idioms. Hill’s first solo CD Rhythms of Innocence, featured him on over 75 percussion instruments, recorders, wood flutes, didjeridoo, and piano. His jazz compositions have been featured in live performance on Colorado Public Television, and his compositions are regularly played on NPR stations.

William Hill holds the Bachelor of Music with High Distinction (1977) from Indiana University, and the Master of Music (4.0 GPA) (1980) from the Cleveland Institute of Music. He was inducted into Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society by unanimous vote in 2017. Hill was awarded the Performer’s Certificate from Indiana University, the Maurice Abravannel Music Director’s Award from the Music Academy of the West, and the Drum Set Soloist’s Award from the Ohio Collegiate Jazz Competition.

William Hill is married to violinist Natalie Schmitz Hill and they have two children, Nadya, born June 17,1988, and Colin, born August 2, 1994, both excellent professional musicians. The Hill’s love to enjoy Colorado’s wonderful outdoors skiing, hiking, swimming. The family also enjoys art work, and performing concerts for various community and family oriented events. An avid mountaineer, Hill has climbed and skied from the summit of more than 60 of Colorado’s highest peaks.

Reviews:
“It was one of those rare occasions when the ears could bask in almost total enchantment…….if one piece stood just a bit above the rest it was Hill’s Seven Abstract Miniatures.” the Cleveland Plain Dealer

“Hill’s Sonata for Marimba and Strings (with the composer as marimbist extrordinaire) stole the show. His music is unabashedly accessible and undeniably fun. The staid Nova audience whooped and hollered at the eye popping conclusion.” the Salt Lake Tribune

“Bill Hill Rocks the Concert Hall with New Percussion Piece” (headline) “Remarkable skills, colorful orchestration, and blazing virtuosity that can’t fail to win over his listeners, who responded with a thunderous ovation.” Marc Shulgold, Rocky Mountain News

“Hill’s pieces are marked by a high level of rhythmic inventiveness, a strong sense of lyricism and a wide range of harmonic languages. Colorful, impressionistic orchestration, sweeping gestures, and the feral sound of James Pellerite’s native flutes beautifully evoke the wild openness of the landscapes touched by the northern lights. The Moravian Philharmonic, led by Lawrence Golan, performs with passion and vigor.” Stephen Eddins, All Music Guide

“William Hill’s Funky Little Crustceans is as charming as the title suggests…..his colorful writing for percussion (and everyone else) comes as no surprise, but he also has some memorable musical ideas. Aurora Borealis is atmospheric and often aptly luminous, and the sound of the Native American flutes is haunting. The Seven Abstract Miniatures are delightful and far more substantial than their title suggests. The composer himself is the superb percussion soloist and the orchestra sounds terrific throughout.” David Hurwitz, Classics Today

“A superb timpanist, outstanding percussionist, inspired composer and, above all, a tremendous colleague. Bill’s passion for music and making music are palpable.” Marin Alsop, internationally known conductor

“The highlight of the night was Colorado composer Bill Hill’s tone poem “Aurora Borealis,” a 23 minute work that featured the symphony’s long time principal flutist Christopher Kantner. Kantner wove a spell with warm, bewitching tones, here commanding attention in rhythmic bursts, there lulling the listener with long soulful sounds of nature. Concert goers reacted with a well-deserved standing ovation.” John Phipps, Grand Rapids Press

“This was a very different kind of jazz concert. Every work on the program (composed by William Hill) was extremely sophisticated and reveled in complexities. Chiaraluce, Haverstick, Hanson, Bland, and Nadya and Bill Hill are capable of some of the most difficult improvisations that I have heard in many years. Hill can do with one hand what most other percussionists can do with two. Absolutely amazing, it will bring tears to your eyes.” Robin McNeil, Opus Colorado

“I was riveted and delighted by the CSO’s performance of William Hill’s new Symphony #3, a thrilling and mature work premiered to huge acclaim. It just doesn’t get any better than this.” Lorenz Rychner, Editor, Recording-The Magazine for the Recording Musician

“William Hill is a major composer, and his Third Symphony will find its place in the history of music as one of the finest symphonies of its time.” Robin McNeil, Opus Colorado

“Hill’s Meditation and Ritual Dance takes pride of place because of his imaginative orchestration and the contrasting colors and moods that he evokes. Hill’s Aurora Borealis invokes a haunting and dark atmosphere which must be a sonic equivalent to the visual spectacle that many have witnessed. His works demonstrate a secure technique, and accessible but original style, and an abundance of substantial and contrasting musical ideas. In Seven Abstract Miniatures Hill has succeeded in effectively setting seven of his own pen and ink drawings, and given that he is the featured solo percussionist in this recording, he is a triple threat. The music is full of the angular energy depicted in his art, clearly delineated by the lines, often driving and virtuosic, with Hill as the solo percussionist, and is quite a tour de force.” David DeBoor Canfield, Fanfare Magazine

“William Hill’s Ancient Rituals is a dynamic work inspired by Colorado’s Mesa Verde and the rites of its ancient cliff dwellers. It pushes the musical envelope in a host of ways, moody and languid passages that inspire vivid imagery, and robust percussion driven explosions. All of this makes a highly entertaining presentation-aurally and visually-with a less than stuffy vibe in the concert hall. Indeed the innovative material challenges the players as well as the audience: Many of the veteran, ultra talented musicians clearly found the music provocative, breaking into wide grins or hollering out a hearty Bravo” GRNOW.com John Sinkevics

“The Raven takes 40 minutes to perform and it is the most fleeting 40 minutes imaginable. What is so remarkably convincing – if not startling – is Hill’depth in emphasizing the everchanging thoughts of Poe in describing his loss. His skillful use of the chorus and the orchestra define and bring forth the emotion and range of expression of the text to a remarkable level. Hill’s score allows one to understand Poe’s poem and he received one of the longest standing ovations in recent memory.” Robin McNeil, Opus Colorado.

“The Raven is a remarkable setting of the poem, and a noble challenge for the chorus.” Duain Wolfe, Chorus Director, Colorado Symphony and Chicago Symphony

“The Raven is a major and important work. It is the next step beyond Berg’s Lulu and Wozzeck”. Zoe Erisman, Professor Emeritus University of Colorado

William Hill’s RENAISSANCE is a thoroughly compelling work, not only for its astute and beauBfully craCed music, but also for its text. Compiled by the composer, the texts cross several centuries with pleas for peace and humanity in our troubled world, and they are punctuated by abrasive interjecBons of DIES IRAE and imploring echoes of DONA NOBIS PACEM. His music molds these words into clear and capBvaBng moBfs that reflect the beauty or the violence of the disparate texts. It’s an extraordinary piece that sBmulates the intellect and touches the heart. Duain Wolfe Music Director Colorado Symphony Chorus, ReBred Music Director Chicago Symphony Chorus

Renaissance is a fantasBc creaBon by
William Hill. Inspired by a variety of texts and concepts, he moulds together a narraBve that is excepBonally dramaBc and deeply moving. The wriBng for both chorus and orchestra demonstrates a highly refined skill developed over many years of playing and composing. The piece is both challenging and extremely rewarding. Most importantly, the music speaks to the listener with its clarity of vision and visceral energy. Peter Oundjian Music Director Colorado Symphony, Colorado Music Festival, and Internationally Recognized Conductor and Musician

“William Hill’s Concerto for Viola, Strings, Harp, and Percussion, premiered by the Evergreen Chamber Orchestra in June 2023 has its share of virtuosic moments, is extremely playable, and extremely listenable. Hill uses traditional forms in this charming, disarming, and absolutely engaging work, then sets them on their head in a terrific 14 minute dance between soloist and orchestra. Basil Vendryes, Principal Violist with the Colorado Symphony, for whom the concerto was composed, exploited the instrument’s luxurious tone, and the piece’s technical demands. This polished performance, under the composer’s baton, is an example of what can be accomplished when an artistic vision is coupled with a commitment to using community musicians in a less formal manner.” Diana Skinner, violinist.com