William Trachsel (b. 1988) is an Indianapolis based composer, electronic musician, percussionist, and educator. His recent works explore themes of mental health, climate change, social interaction, the intersection of nature and technology, and the use of physical space as an aspect of musical structure and expressive energy. Trachsel’s music has been performed across the United States and abroad by ensembles such as the U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own” Chamber Players, Percussion Duo Moitié, the Indiana University Orchestras, JCA Composers Orchestra, Empyrean Quartet, Soma Quartet, Capital University Percussion Ensemble, and Ascending Duo. His music has been featured at numerous festivals, including the SEAMUS National Conference, CEMIcircles, Electronic Music Midwest, Ball State New Music Festival, Midwest Composers Symposium, SCI Student National Conference, Elektronik Musik Fest, and NOW Music Festival. Trachsel’s  marimba duet, “Opposing Currents,” recently won the Percussion Duo Moitié Call for Scores, leading to the premiere of the work by Percussion Duo Moitié at the Seoul Arts Center in Seoul, South Korea. His orchestral work “These Lines, Unseen” won both the Jacobs School of Music Dean’s Prize and the New Voices orchestral composition competition in 2018.

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William Trachsel is currently an adjunct professor of music both at Butler University Jordan College of the Arts, and at the University of Indianapolis. He previously held a teaching position at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, and he has worked extensively with the Butler Community Arts School. Trachsel holds degrees from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music (Doctor of Music in Composition, with minors in Music Theory and Electronic Music), Butler University (Master of Music, Dual Major in Composition and Percussion Performance), and Capital University Conservatory of Music (Bachelor of Music in Composition). In his free time, Will enjoys hiking, reading, and riding as many roller coasters as he possibly can.