welcome

As a musician based in Toronto, I’ve lived a creative life. Performing within Canada and abroad. Composing for, and recording with, several ensembles. And producing film scores, instructional videos, and a documentary about my psychoanalyst, Dr. Anderson.

Bill with kacapi
Bill plays all guitars, bass, kacapi, gamelan, glass

composer performer producer

I have a keen interest in the creative process and the unconscious mind while attempting to live a healthy life.

As an instrumentalist, I play like a composer and improvise like a poet. And have a penchant for transcendent rhythm. I write lyrics, poetry and fiction. And use a cross-discipline approach to my work. I’ve received several grants from the Canada Council, Ontario Arts Council, and Toronto Arts Council. And hold a B.F.A. Honours from York University (1988) in music composition and jazz performance and an interdisciplinary composition M.F.A. from Simon Fraser University (1993) and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Toronto (1996).

since covid

Because there were no gigs during, and for a while after, the COVID-19 lockdown, it pushed some of my musical friends and colleagues into early retirement. And though I’ll never retire, I have slowed down as a performer. However, I recently performed in the Grand Ballroom at the Sheraton Centre with Evergreen Club Contemporary Gamelan for the opening gala of the One Harp World festival on 28 July 2026. We performed a concerto for harp and Sundanese gamelan by Andrew P. McDonald, The Eleusinian Mysteries. The brilliant harpist Erica Goodman was the featured soloist. Also, Glass Orchestra rides the floor once or twice a year. A fun band that improvises on found glass instruments. On 24 July 2026, we did a sold-out performance at the Koffler Centre of the Arts. And we are giving a concert on Friday, 18 September 2026 at Arraymusic. For the time being, I’m not looking for gigs or composing projects. I need to finish a few long-term projects first.

The lockdown made it easy to transition into writing more—a happy accident. I’ve been honing a manuscript that leans into the unconscious mind of a troubled boy, while also reading deeply and writing poetry and songs.

teacher

My teaching career began by helping a singer-songwriter learn more chords. I was twenty-three. It’s blossomed into the private lessons and small ensemble classes I offer at the Royal Conservatory, including a 5-day Summer Fusio Jam for Kids (Ages 10-13), and Teens (Ages 14-17). Currently, I see students on Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays each week (September – July). The other four days I write, and take care of our house with my partner.

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Bill Parsons Music