Bill Long

Bill Long

Trumpet / Harmonica

Bill was born in northern New Jersey and began attending public schools in Mahwah where he learned to play his first instruments.  His family moved to the "North Country" and Bill graduated from Saranac High School and attended a year at Crane School of Music, when Bill's life took some twists and turns.  He put down the trumpet and moved to Long Island and then to New Jersey where he worked as a machinist for several years before moving back to the Plattsburgh area. That was when he picked up the trumpet again, after an 8 year hiatus, and resumed playing with the Strawhatters Community Band.

Bill's career finally landed him at Plattsburgh State, where he has worked in the Maintenance Department now for over 32 years. In that time Bill has had many opportunities to participate with the college's Symphonic Band, Jazz Ensemble and Brass Ensemble.  He is currently a member of several groups..the Adirondack Wind Ensemble, the Adirondack Jazz Orchestra, the Plattsburgh State Gospel Choir Band, the Police Pipes and Drums of Plattsburgh and of course the Strawhatters Community Band.

Bill can also frequently be found in the orchestra pits of local musicals, or sounding Taps at area Military Honors Funerals and memorial commemorations as a  War of 1812 reenactor and member of Bugles Across America, or playing music for the residents at the Skilled Nursing Facility at CVPH. Maybe you'll even catch him actually practicing sometime!