Billy Test

Billy Test
Born
William Lynn Test

(1989-02-21) February 21, 1989 (age 37)
Philipsburg, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, U.S.
EducationPhilipsburg-Osceola Area High
State College Area High School
William Paterson University
OccupationMusician
Years active2009 – present
Websitebillytest.com

William Lynn "Billy" Test (born February 21, 1989) is an American jazz pianist, composer and arranger. Since 2019, he has been the pianist in residence with the WDR Big Band.


Early life and career

Born on February 21, 1989, in Philipsburg, Pennsylvania, Test is one of two sons born to Susan and Lynn Test, the latter a well-regarded teacher at the high school both his sons attended, Philipsburg-Osceola Area High. Following his death, the family moved to State College, Pennsylvania, where Test completed his secondary education at State College Area High School, class of 2007. He later attended William Paterson University.

In July 2002, at Philipsburg's Rowland Theater, in a concert staged to benefit cancer research and attended by the former first couple, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter (whose reception was reportedly "rivaled only" by that given Test), the then-13-year-old pianist, although initially tasked with performing the national anthem, was delighted to shift gears when the opportunity presented itself to accompany Cahal Dunne's "moving rendition" of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Music of the Night".

In December 2009, while attending William Patterson University, Test joined fellow students Alex Chilowicz (the featured soloist on tenor sax) and drummer Arthur Vint, as well as faculty members Steve LaSpina (bass), Paul Meyers (guitar), Rich DeRosa (conductor), and members of the Manhattan School of Music Jazz Philharmonic Orchestra, performing numerous standards as arranged by DeRosa, as well as Chilowicz's own arrangement of "Manhã de Carnaval".

For almost a decade, beginning in 2011, Test became an increasingly familiar face at the Monroe County jazz club Deer Head Inn, featured frequently on Sundays, often teamed with reedman Jay Rattman. He has also worked there with vocalist Giacomo Gates, saxophonist Dave Liebman, bass player / vocalist Nancy Reed, and in a trio with bassist Evan Gregor and drummer Ian Froman The work of another Deer Head regular, of considerably longer standing, pianist / composer-arranger John Coates Jr., has formed the basis for at least three tribute / deep dives staged by Test and Rattway.

The aforementioned Sunday time slot proved particularly fortuitous on February 21, 2016, as the gig co-starring Rattman and advertised as "Billy's Birthday Bash", afforded fans a chance to help celebrate Test's 27th birthday.

Test was a recipient of the 2018 Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Award. Since January 2025, he has also been on the faculty of Conservatorium Maastricht,

References

  1. ↑ Falce, Lori (January 8, 2010). "Concert a test to jazz pianist; State College Area High School grad Billy Test returns to the region this weekend with a performance in jazz piano". Centre Daily Times. p. C6. Retrieved June 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com. State High became home in his senior year, when mom Susan decided to move to State College in the face of an uncertain future of the music program at the Philipsburg-Osceola Area School District. It wasn't an easy decision, leaving the district where Test's late father, Lynn, had been a much loved history teacher.
  2. 1 2 "CONGRATULATIONS TO THE GRADUATES OF STATE COLLEGE AREA HIGH SCHOOL". Centre Daily Times. June 9, 2007. p. B8. Retrieved June 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com. Gino Lee Tambourine, Aaron David Tamminga◆, Kendra Adele Taylor, William Lynn Test◆, Benjamin Will Thomas◆, William Stephenson Thomas, Travis Douglas Tice, [...]
    ◆ = Faculty Scholar
  3. ↑ Hollis, Larry (2020). "New Issues - Reissues". Cadence (Annual Supplement). p. 45. ProQuest 2477759305. DAVE STRYKER/BOB MINTZER/WDR BIG BAND, BLUE SOUL, STRIKEZONE 8820. TROUBLE MAN / ANA / WHAT'S GOING ON / CAME TO BELIEVE / BLUES STRUT / WHEN DOVES CRY / WICHITA LINEMAN / SHADOWBOXING / STAN'S SHUFFLE. 58:07. Collective personnel" Stryker, g; Mintzer, ts; [...] Billy Test. p. org; John Goldsby, b; Hans Dekker, d. 22,25 & 26/2019. [...] Special kudos to Billy Test who doubles on organ for the two Marvin Gaye songs and joins the tenor and guitar for solo slices on the killer 'Blues Strut.'
  4. ↑ "CLUBS". The Morning Call. February 18, 2016. p. 20. Retrieved June 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com. THE MORNING CALL – THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2016 [...] SUNDAY – BC Combo Jam: 6 p.m. Four Points Sheraton Hotel & Suites Allentown Jetport, 3400 Airport Road, 610-266-1000. Billy's Birthday Bash - Billy Test & Jay Rattman: 5 p.m. Deer Head Inn, 5 Main St., Delaware Water Gap, $8, 570-424-2000.
  5. 1 2 3 Targeted News Service (January 18, 2018). "ASCAP Foundation Announces 2018 Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Award Recipients". Wire Feed. ProQuest 1988949940. 2018 Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Award recipients are listed with their age, current residence and place of origin. [...] ; Gene Knific, age 25 of Chicago, IL (Kalamazoo, MI); Sara McDonald, age 26 of Brooklyn, NY (Bethesda, MD); Zachary Rich, age 24 of Greeley, CO (Witchita, KS); Elijah Shiffer, age 26 of Brooklyn, NY (Mt. Vernon, NY); Billy Test, age 28 of Astoria, NY (Phillipsburg, PA); Garrett Wingfield, age 25 of Dallas, TX (Louisville, KY); Sam Wolsk, age 20, of Princeton, NJ (MA) and Drew Zaremba, age 26 of Denton, TX (Little Rock, AR).
  6. 1 2 Oakes, Deborah (November 6, 1998). "Good Morning!". Centre Daily Times. p. 5A – via Newspapers.com. HE TRIED NOT TO FIDGET IN HIS chair, but 9-year-old Billy Test of Philipsburg was a little nervous waiting for his turn at the Pennsylvania Music Festival in Galeton recently[, h]aving taken his first piano lesson just two and a half years ago, and not realizing the day's competition included categories for different age groups [...] Shaken but determined to perform the music he'd practiced, young Bill took his mom Susan's advice and played his heart out for his grandma and Aunt Nancy in the audience. He played so well for them, in fact, that he earned first place (surprise!) in the festival's elementary division and will appear next summer at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City.
  7. 1 2 Falce, Lori (April 18, 2013). "On Centre: Around Philipsburg – P-O grad's performance gets rave reviews". Centre Daily Times. p. C6. Retrieved June 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com. I remember the first time I saw Billy Test play the piano. It was about 10 or 12 years ago. He was performing, as he so often did, with his brother, Scott. And even in elementary and junior high, he was amazing. You know those people who are so good, you just know they are going to do some- thing awesome with their talent some day? That positively glowed out of him. I saw him often as he worked his way through high school. I remember when he won a prestigious jazz piano competition, not some- thing where he was competing against other 12-year-olds. No, the kind of thing where he tested his mettle against people who had been honing their skills longer than he had been alive. I admit there was always a soft spot in my heart for the Test boys. Their father, Lynn, was my favorite teacher in high school. His world history class at Philipsburg-Osceola was the highlight of my day in 10th grade. [...] On Friday, Billy played Carnegie Hall with the Essential Voices USA, the choir in residence with the New York Pops Orchestra. He accompanied them with his performance of 'Testimony' by Stephen Schwartz, part of a tribute concert to the composer for his 65th birthday. The Washington Post called the number the highlight of the evening.
  8. ↑ "Child's Play; Area schools fill the bill with variety of fall plays". Centre Daily Times. November 1, 2002. p. 5A. Retrieved June 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com. Ashley Shimmel, Scott Test and Billy Test practice for the Philipsburg-Osceola Area High School production of J.R.R. Tolkien's 'The Hobbit.'
  9. 1 2 William Patterson University (November 24, 2009). "WILLIAM PATERSON UNIVERSITY STUDENT TO PERFORM AS SOLOIST FOR RARELY HEARD WORK FOR JAZZ SAXOPHONE, STRING ORCHESTRA". US Fed News Service. ProQuest 469490291. Alex Chilowicz of Wayne, a senior at William Paterson University, will perform as jazz saxophone soloist in a rare performance of "Focus Suite," a piece for jazz saxophone and string orchestra, on Wednesday, December 9 at 8 p.m. in the Shea Center for Performing Arts on the University's campus in Wayne. Admission is free. Chilowicz will be joined by members of the Manhattan School of Music Jazz Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as William Paterson jazz students Arthur Vint of Tucson, Arizona on drums and Billy Test of Phillipsburg, Pennsylvania on piano, and faculty member Paul Meyers on guitar and Steve LaSpina on bass. Rich DeRosa, a William Paterson associate professor of music, will conduct.
  10. ↑ Brenckle, Lara (July 25, 2002). "Carter helps support battle against cancer". Centre Daily Times. p. 6. Retrieved June 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com. The applause garnered by the former president and Dunne's suit jackets, for that matter, was rivaled only by the hand given to 12-year-old Philipsburg pianist Billy Test. Test accompanied Dunne on a moving rendition of 'Music of the Night,' from Andrew Lloyd Webber's 'Phantom of the Opera.' This was not Test's first time performing before politicians - he sang at an event attended by former Gov. Tom Ridge - but it was definitely interesting. 'It was just great,' Test said. 'I was originally supposed to do the National Anthem, but when they asked me if I would accompany Cahal, it was an opportunity I couldn't put [sic] down.'
  11. ↑ "Child's Play; Area schools fill the bill with variety of fall plays". Centre Daily Times. November 1, 2002. p. 5A. Retrieved June 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com. Ashley Shimmel, Scott Test and Billy Test practice for the Philipsburg-Osceola Area High School production of J.R.R. Tolkien's 'The Hobbit.'
  12. ↑ "Child's Play; Area schools fill the bill with variety of fall plays". The Morning Call. November 1, 2002. p. 5A. Retrieved June 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com. Ashley Shimmel, Scott Test and Billy Test practice for the Philipsburg-Osceola Area High School production of J.R.R. Tolkien's 'The Hobbit.'
  13. 1 2 "Clubs". The Morning Call. June 14, 2018. p. 19. Retrieved June 25, 2026 – via Newspapers.com. Deer Head Inn, Five Main St., Delaware Water Gap. 570-424-2000. Jazz Jam with Bill Washer & Friends: 8-11 p.m. Thurs.; Dave Liebman, Billy Test, Evan Gregor, Ian Froman: 7-11 p.m. Fri. $15; $8 after 9:30 p.m.; COTA Big Cats: 7-11 p.m. Sat. $15; $8 after 9:30 p.m.; Jay Rattman and Billy Test: The music of John Coates Jr. 5-8 p.m. Sun. $10.
  14. 1 2 "Clubs". The Morning Call. December 26, 2019. p. 18. Retrieved June 25, 2026 – via Newspapers.com. Deer Head Inn, 5 Main St., Dela- ware Water Gap. 570-424-2000. Jazz Jam with Bill Washer & Friends: 8-11 p.m. Thu.; Kate Baker & Vic Juris: 7-11 p.m. Fri. $12.; Nancy Reed & Billy Test: 7-11 p.m. Sat. $15: $8 after 9:30 p.m.; Billy Test & Jay Rattman: A John Coates, Jr. Tribute: 5-8 p.m. Sun. $12.
  15. ↑ "Child's Play; Area schools fill the bill with variety of fall plays". The Morning Call. November 1, 2002. p. 5A. Retrieved June 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com. Ashley Shimmel, Scott Test and Billy Test practice for the Philipsburg-Osceola Area High School production of J.R.R. Tolkien's 'The Hobbit.'
  16. ↑ "Clubs". The Morning Call. November 24, 2016. p. 22. Retrieved June 25, 2026 – via Newspapers.com. Sunday BC Combo Jam: 5:30 p.m. Four Points Sheraton Hotel & Suites Allentown Jetport, 3400 Airport Road, Allentown, 610-266-1000. Billy Test & Jay Rattman - the music of John Coates Jr: 5 p.m. Deer Head Inn, 5 Main St., Delaware Water Gap, $10, 570-424-2000.
  17. ↑ Conservatorium Maastricht (January 14, 2025)."Discover and develop your unique identity in jazz music! Get inspired by the jazz piano class of Conservatorium Maastricht". Facebook. "Why choose our jazz piano programme? • Individual lessons tailored to your needs and learning goals from Frank Giebels, Mike Roelofs, Billy Test and Vadim Neselovskyi. [...] Open Day: 25 January 2025 - Join us and see what makes Conservatorium Maastricht the ideal place for aspiring jazz musicians! • Taster Day: 19 February 2025 – The best opportunity to experience what it's like to study at Conservatorium Maastricht."