| Bill Dethrow graduated from Millikin University on a music scholarship in 1968 and was active in the Millikin Jazz Lab Band under the direction of Roger Schueler from 1964 through 1970. He completed his Masters in Music Education from the University of Illinois in 1981 and doctoral coursework in 1983. Bill was a public school instrumental music director in Central Illinois from 1968 through 1990. In 1972, he was an Instructor at the Army-Navy School of Music in Norfolk, Virginia. He continued his military career in the Illinois National Guard as the Warrant Officer/Commanding Officer of the 144th State Army Band from 1968 through 1996. He was the Director of Music for Governor Edgar's 1995 Inauguration. In 1990, Bill became a public school administrator until his retirement in 2006. In Central Illinois, Bill has been involved with the Merchant Street Rowdies, Decatur Big Band, Springfield Big Band, Don Smith Orchestra and Dick Garretson Quintet. He has performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival, Brienz Jazz Festival and the Brisago Jazz Festival in Switzerland. He has performed for the National Touring Companies of Chicago, Chorus Line, Fiddler and Hairspray. He has performed professionally with Stan Kenton, Myron Floran, Lou Rawls, Nelson Riddle Orchestra, Guy Lombardo Orchestra, Four Tops, Temptations, Gladys Knight, Bob Hope, Steve Allan, Tommy Tune, Mitzi Gaynor, Clark Terry, Shirley Jones, Sheri Lewis, Ronnie Kole and the NYC Rockettes. |
