William Dick taught in the Austin schools for 29 years and was conductor of the Austin ISD All-City Orchestra, which reorganized in 1993 as the Austin Youth Orchestra.

Mr. Dick's teaching career has been distinguished by many awards, including Music Educator of the Year from the American String Teachers Association and Director of the Year from the Texas Orchestra Directors Association.

Mr. Dick is considered a leader in the Suzuki movement in the United States and serves the Suzuki Association of the Americas Board of Directors as liaison officer to the public schools, was co-editor of the public school column of the American Suzuki Journal, has served as the Public School area coordinator for the International Suzuki Teachers Conferences, and is the Viola area coordinator for the 2002 International Suzuki Teachers Conference. He has served as chairman of the Texas UIL violin committee and has trained dozens of All-State Orchestra members (including two concertmasters and one principal violist).

Mr. Dick's career as a performer includes a variety of experiences: 11 years as a violist with the Austin Symphony Orchestra, director and performer for USO Tours of the North Atlantic, a member of Esther's Follies comedy company, and a Best Actor award from the Austin Circle of Theatres.

In October 1999, Mr. Dick was presented a "Music of the Heart" Educator Award from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, the Sony Corporation, and the National Coalition for Music Education. He now practices from a rosewood replica of the music stand that Meryl Streep used in the movie based on the work of Roberta Guaspari.