Bill Simenson has been performing professionally on trumpet in the Twin Cities for over thirty years. He has performed regularly with such groups as the Wolverines Classic Jazz Orchestra, Latin Sounds Orchestra, the Cedar Avenue Big Band (founding member), the Jazz Composers’ Art Ensemble, the Jerry O’Hagan Orchestra, Salsa Blanca, and Seven Steps to Havana. He worked with David Byrne of "Talking Heads" on the the Robert Wilson production of "The Knee Plays" at the Walker Art Center and has also performed at Mixed Blood, Guthrie, Cricket, and Children’s Theaters; with groups and artists such as the JazzMn Big Band, Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, the Ordway Big Band, De Stiljistics, the American Classic Jazz Orchestra, the big band for the Minnesota Vikings, and Jack McDuff; as well as with his own ensembles. He also led the band for the Minnesota North Stars hockey team and has backed such artists as Cab Calloway, Steve Allen, Tony Sandler, Maureen McGovern, Joan Rivers, Mitzi Gaynor, the Temptations, and the Four Tops. He remains active as a freelance performer and has played in styles ranging from classical to rock and R&B to polka.  In June of 2012 he launched the Bill Simenson Orchestra, which performs his original music for big band the first Tuesday of every month at Jazz Central Studios (407 Central Ave. SE, Minneapolis MN).

He has studied trumpet with Laurie Frink (New York NY), Michael Hesse (Norwegian Opera, Oslo, Norway), Reidar Bye (Trondheim Symphony Orchestra, Norway), Dag Tunaal (Trondheim Symphony Orchestra, Norway), Michael Brand (St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, MN), Greg Lewis, (Minneapolis Jazz/Studio Trumpeter, MN), and Ron Hasselmann (Minnesota Orchestra). In addition he has taken lessons with Peter Bond (Metropolitan Opera, New York NY),  Dominic Derasse (New York NY), Charley Davis (Los Angeles CA), Lew Soloff (New York NY), John Ridgeon (Leicester, England), Robert Baca (University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire WI), Bobby Shew (Los Angeles CA), Harry Kvebaek (Oslo, Norway), Steve Wright (Minneapolis MN), and Kenny Wheeler (London, England).

He has teaches trumpet privately in a variety of locations in the Twin Cities.  Please click on the "Lessons" tab for more information.

Awards include: Bush Foundation Fellowship in Music Composition (1999), Jerome Foundation Travel and Study Grant (1990).