Bil Jackson, Associate Professor of clarinet at the Blair School of Music, enjoys a varied musical career that includes solo, orchestral and chamber music appearances. Before joining the faculty at the Blair School Jackson served as principal clarinetist with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Colorado Symphony Orchestra, Honolulu Symphony and has performed as guest principal clarinetist with the St Louis, St. Paul Chamber, Minnesota Orchestra, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, and Cincinnati Symphony Orchestras. He is also on the Artist-Faculty of the Colorado College Summer Music Festival, is Artist-Faculty Emeritus, Aspen Music Festival and has served on the faculties of the University of Texas, University of Colorado, University of Northern Colorado and Duquesne University.

Jackson began his orchestral career at 19 with the Honolulu Symphony as principal clarinetist. Jackson commissioned, and premiered with the Honolulu Symphony, Dan Welcher’s Clarinet Concerto which was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in music in 1989. He subsequently returned to the Honolulu Symphony to record the concerto for the Naxos label, Donald Johanos conducting. During the 2008-2009 Colorado Symphony season, Jackson premiered Pulitzer Prize winner Kevin Puts’ clarinet concerto, which was written for Jackson with Jeffrey Kahane conducting. Additionally, he performed the Puts concerto via a live NPR national broadcast from the Aspen Music Festival's 2010 season. Jackson recorded the Puts concerto in February 2015 with the Colorado Symphony, Andrew Litton conducting.