William (Bill) Hilyard earned a degree in music education (BsED) from Ohio University in 1967 and spent the next ten years as a high school band director in the Parma City Schools in Cleveland, Ohio.  A career in arts administration began in 1976 as Assistant Manager of the Omaha Symphony and the first Director of the orchestra’s summer music program, Festival of a Thousand Oaks.   In 1977, he became Director of Development at the Cleveland Institute of Music and from 1978-1984  was the Associate Director of the Cleveland office of the Metropolitan Opera (aka the Northern Ohio Opera).   He became the Executive Director in 1984 through 1986.  From 1987-2008 he was the Director of Development at Playhouse Square Foundation.   He served on the board of Ohio Citizens for the Arts for many years (now known as Creative Ohio), including three years as board chair and from 2015-2017 was on the Advisory Board of the Cleveland Institute of Art. 

At Ohio University, he is past president of the School of Music Society of Alumni and Friends (2018 & 2019 academic years), served on the Ohio University Alumni Association Board from 2008- 2013 and Board Chair the final two years, and a Board Member of the Ohio University Foundation from 2014- 2023.  Currently he serves on the Dean’s Leadership Council for the College of Fine Arts.  He was also on the original Advisory Board for Tantrum Theatre in Dublin, Ohio.