Faculty / Staff
Bill Yeager
- Professor of Music
- Director of Jazz Studies
- Office: Music
- Phone: (619) 594-4680 / Fax: (619) 594-1692
- E-mail: yeager1@mail.sdsu.edu
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 has 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.
Listen to Bill Yeager play with the LA Jazz Workshop Big Band (MP3 format):
- Medium Basie Swing: http://jazz.sdsu.edu/audio/MBS_01_Medium_Basie_Swing.mp3
- Angel Eyes: http://jazz.sdsu.edu/audio/MBS_07_Angel_Eyes.mp3
- Many Happy Returns: http://jazz.sdsu.edu/audio/DMN_05_Many_Happy_Returns.mp3
Listen to more from Bill Yeager and the San Diego State University Jazz Ensemble from the Audio Page: http://jazz.sdsu.edu/audio.php.