Bil Jackson

Professional classical clarinetist Bil Jackson started his symphonic career with the Honolulu Symphony in 1980 where he was principal clarinetist for two seasons. Presently Bil is the is the long time principal clarinetist of the Colorado Symphony in Denver Colorado, and is also a Professor of clarinet at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colorado.

The composer Dan Welcher composed his clarinet concerto for Mr. Jackson in 1989. Jackson premiered the piece with the Honolulu Symphony under the baton of Donald Johanos that September and later recorded it with the same orchestra. In The Spring of 2009 Mr. Jackson is scheduled to premiere a new clarinet concerto by the American composer Kevin Puts. The Aspen Music Festival recently commissioned Mr. Puts to compose a concerto for the cellist, Yo Yo Ma. Jackson also records for composer Bill Douglas with whom he recently recorded The Suite Cantando with Streve Dibner, bassoon.

Jackson has enjoyed solo performances with a number of American orchestras where he has become well known for his performances of the Copland Clarinet Concert as well as the Mozart Clarinet Concerto, K.V. 622. Jackson first performed the Copeland with the Honolulu Symphony in 1982. He has subsequently appeared as soloist with the Colorado Symphony, the Charlotte Symphony, and the Dallas Chamber Orchestra

In 1999, Jackson was engaged by Artistic Director David Shifrin to perform at Lincoln with the Lincoln Center Chamber Society and to tour throughout the United States with the Lincoln Center Chamber Music Society.

Bil Jackson is the consummate festival player appearing with numerous of the top festivals all over the country. These include the Aspen Music Festival, where Jackson has been a steady performer since he was a teenager. Other highly rated festivals to engage Mr. Jackson over the years are the Bravo! Vail Music Festival, Angel Fire, and the Alpenglow Festival. Further-a-field Jackson has been a regular performer at Chamber Music Northwest. He also has appeared at Chamber Music Sedona, and the Australian Chamber Music Festival.

Bil Jackson was a student of Robert Marcellus at Northwestern University.