Bill Green Centennial
About Bill Green
Bill Green is a distinguished educator and dedicated mentor with over 25 years of experience in music education. As the founder of the Bill Green Community Program (BGCP), he has devoted his career to making quality music instruction accessible to students of all backgrounds, combining his expertise as a professional saxophonist with his passion for teaching.
As a mentor, Bill goes beyond teaching musical technique to nurturing the whole musician. He guides students through the professional aspects of a music career while emphasizing leadership, collaboration, and community engagement. Through individualized instruction and group workshops, Bill has created a supportive environment where young musicians can develop their talents and find their unique voices, building a legacy of accomplished performers and educators who continue to impact the music community.
Named in the memory of the great saxophonist and jazz educator, the Bill Green Mentorship Program was initiated in 1988 to supplement the education of promising young jazz students and to encourage their development as future professional jazz artists. This program boasts an impressive roster of graduates who are successful performing musicians.
Each December, applications are accepted from young people within the public school system (mostly high school students), auditions are held in January, and selected music students receive 8 weeks of free training in advanced music techniques from professional musicians. The final workshop is a professional recording session with each student receiving a CD of the session. Students and mentors subsequently perform in a jazz concert, usually held at Catalina’s Jazz Club in Hollywood.