Senior Master Sgt. William F. Hurd is a violist with the Air Force Strings, The United States Air Force Band, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C. Originally from East Meadow, New York, his career with the Air Force began in 2001. Hurd currently serves as the band’s Unit Security Manager.
Hurd earned both a bachelor's and master's degree in viola performance from the New England Conservatory in Boston, graduating with academic honors. As a freelance musician in the Boston area, he performed and recorded with the Boston Philharmonic, Albany Symphony, as well as orchestras in Peru, Germany and Israel. His former teachers include James Dunham, Malcolm Lowe and Marylou Speaker-Churchill.
As a member of the Air Force String Quartet, Hurd has appeared at the San Juan Conservatory in Puerto Rico, the Eastern Music Festival in North Carolina, and the Emerson International String Quartet Workshop at the State University of New York at Stony Brook.
Highlights of Hurd's Air Force career include performing at the Congressional gold medal ceremony for the 14th Dalai Lama in 2007, as well as performing at the 2009 inauguration concert on the national mall.