Will Cooper retired as the Band Director for the Baldwin City, KS public schools after 35 years of teaching (1986-2021). During his tenure, the Baldwin Bands consistently earned the highest ratings at state and regional festivals in concert, jazz and marching band. During his tenure, the Baldwin High School Band was invited to perform at Walt Disney World on four different occasions and won their division each time they participated in the Winter Park Music Festival. Cooper holds degrees from the University of Kansas (BME) and Kansas State University (MME). While at Baldwin, he hosted the Northeast KMEA District auditions for over 20 years. Cooper has served on the state board for the Kansas Bandmasters Association in many capacities including a term as President (1997-1999). In 2002, he was elected President of the "old" KMEA Northeast District and in 2018 was the inaugural President of the "new" KMEA Northeast District. He also served on KMEA's Festival Committee and the Required Music List Committee. He has been the assistant band director of the Kansas Lions State Band six different times and the Tour Director of the Kansas Ambassadors of Music European Tour. In addition to his responsibilities with the Baldwin school bands, he served as the trumpet teacher at Baker University for ten years. Currently, he serves as an Educational Representative for Meyer Music out of Overland Park, KS.

Cooper has been awarded the "Outstanding Elementary Band Teacher of the Year" and the "Outstanding High School Band Teacher of the Year" from the KMEA Northeast District. Additionally, he was selected as the 2017 "Excellence in Education" Award winner from the Baldwin City Chamber of Commerce. In 2003, the Kansas State Department of Education recognized him as a "Kansas Teacher of the Year" nominee. Recently, he was honored to be inducted into the KMEA Hall of Fame Class of 2023.

Mr. Cooper is an active trumpet performer in the northeast Kansas area and performs with many ensembles including Free State Brass Band, DeSoto Brass Band, Lawrence City Band, New Horizons Concert Band, and Crossroads Wind Symphony. He has held the principal trumpet chair with the Topeka Symphony Orchestra for nearly 40 seasons.