Bill was my clarinet teacher at NEC from 1971-74.  When I arrived at NEC from Miami, I quickly found out how difficult it would be to succeed in music as an applied clarinet major.  Bill recognized my frustration and inspired me to find a niche, playing Bass Clarinet.   He managed to get me a private lesson with Felix Viscuglia, the Bass Clarinetist of the BSO.  Though I am no longer involved in music (professionally), I continue to play my bass clarinet thanks to Bill.   Bill also recognized my love of sports and gave me all of his tickets to see the Boston Bruins (he had seats next to the glass in the old Boston Garden).  Since he often had concerts to play with the Boston Ballet Orchestra, I saw a lot of Bruins games which featured the great Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito.  Sadly, I left NEC in 1974 to go to the University of Miami where I finished my BM in 1976.  Bill also got me in touch with Charles Bay, the mouthpiece manufacturer in the Bay area.  I have Bay mouthpieces for both of my instruments thanks to Bill.   Unfortunately, we stopped communicating around 1982 when I became a CPA in Miami, but I never forgot him.

Bill's Dad, my Godfather, was my mom's older (and only) brother. Cousin Bill (Billy, we called him) was 10 years my senior, so we didn't get to know each other as well as I would have liked. I do remember him as, like his Dad, a kind, generous, gracious, and talented man. Fourth of July, I never failed to tell friends to watch the Pops on the Esplanade, so they could see "my first cousin on first clarinet." I would watch with pride as he played under Fiedler and then Williams. In adulthood, our together time was mostly in connection with weddings and funerals...unfortunately. Rest well, cuz; you were special.

Sad news to hear of Bill's passing...

I knew Bill almost all his life.  He was a year older than me.  Our parents were friends before we came into this world - our fathers played together in a Polish orchestra in the 1930's and 40's.  Bill's mother was my godmother.  My mother was Bill's sister's godmother.  Our families were very close.

Bill and I inherited the music gene from our fathers.  Many a Sunday afternoon my family would travel from Suffield, CT, to Willamansett, MA, and my dad and I would take our instruments along.  We would have a "jam session" in the Wrzesien living room - Bill's dad on sax, Bill on clarinet, my dad on accordion, and me on trumpet.  We would play a variety of Polish folk songs for a couple of hours.  Those were the days!

It was apparent then that young Bill was blessed with a lot of natural musical ability.  He was an amazing young performer.  At sixteen Bill was playing with the top polka bands in Connecticut and Western Massachusetts.  Everyone was amazed with his musical ability.  His rendition of "The Clarinet Polka" still ranks as one of the best ever recorded.

After high school Bill attended Hartt College for a year and then transferred to the New England Conservatory.  The rest is history.
He pursued a career in music that is legendary - a great musician and person.

I was fortunate to have known Bill both as a friend and fellow musician.  Although our paths did not cross in recent years as frequently as in the past, I have often thought of him.  His memory will be with me forever.

Jim Turek

Bill's passing is awful news! I knew him for fifty years and had the honor of listening to and playing with him for many of those years. He was a pro's pro: dependable, technically immaculate, musically sensitive, and his playing was filled with life.  He was also a mentor with a wry sense of humor, common sense, and an uncanny ability to "size-up" people and situations. Although no one may be irreplaceable Bill leaves a hole that cannot be filled.

Rest in peace, dear friend.

I had many a fine night of concert and post concert revelry with Bill. 
Bill was a dear colleague, fine professional, lovely clarinetist and excellent musician. He was also one of the funniest people I've ever known and I'll always remember our times together with a big grin. 
Rest in peace Bill. 

Bill was an amazing clarinetist, teacher, mentor and person.  I am thankful that he was in my life. 

I knew Bill for sixty years. He was a wonderful musician, and the kindest, most generous friend one could wish for. He will be missed.

They didn't make them any better than Bill. A musician's musician and a very cool  guy.

Mr. Wrzesien was my clarinet professor from 1993-1997. He was kind, compassionate, and no nonsense. I grew as a player and as a person under his instruction. He will be missed. 

Bill, so many wonderful memories of your kindness, smiles, and talent.  Every visit to our library was a pleasure and, often, an educational moment.  Thank you for your years (decades!) of daily friendship and advice.

Fondly,
Ricky Vallone, New England Conservatory of Music Library

Mr. Wrzesien was my clarinet teacher at NEC in the late 1970s. I distinctly remember, early on, a profound ebb in my enthusiasm for continuing music studies. I was seriously considering another career path, but Mr. W. was having none of it, and he proposed a conference with me and mom. Anyway, he helped get me through that difficult time. Thanks to him, I have enjoyed a career in music for nearly 40 years. That’s the sort of teacher he was. He had a very holistic approach, which I have tried to continue with my students.

I am sorry to hear of his passing. We go back to the late 1950's (March 1958) when I did my first professional recording at age 15.5 years and it was Bill's second session at age 16.5. I learned from Bill to put fire and passion into your interpretations and make it sound interesting and inspiring to the musicians playing and also your audience. Since the early years of performing in Western Massachusetts, I have keep track of Bill's performances with the Boston Pops and also through his many clarinet/sax students in my area including a former student that lived a few doors down from my home in Somers, CT. Bill RIP.

I am so very sorry to hear this news.  Bill Wrzesien was a tremendous player and musician, and a wonderful, committed teacher.  I also found him to be an insightful and intuitive human being.   In my experience he was always 'real' as a human being.  Always.   I am more grateful than I can express to have had him as my clarinet instructor.   Condolences and blessings to his family as they make their way through this difficult time.  

So very sorry to hear this.  Bill Wrzesien was a wonderful teacher, amazing player and musician, and a very intuitive, insightful human being.   I am grateful more than I can express for knowing and working with him.  Deepest condolences and blessings for his family as they move through this time.  

This is sad news. Bill was the coach of the Quintet I was in at NEC. Great guy, great coach. I think we drove him nuts during coaching sessions. Non stop jokes, some quite dirty.  RIP Bill.

Bill always stood out for his competence and kindness.  He played the top jobs for decades in Boston, and was always scrupulously gracious and collegial - no matter that you were  a young instrumentalist, like myself, starting out in the freelance scene in Boston.  He never led with "attitude," just professionalism.  Thank you Bill for all the enjoyable times on the job.

He was a dear, sweet man and a wonderful teacher and mentor.  He will forever be in my heart. God Bless him and his family.

OBITUARY

William George Wrzesien

June 3, 1941 – January 24, 2020

Metrocrest Funeral Home & Hilltop Memorial Park

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