Prior to his administrative appointment in 1998, he was a member of the music faculty at Columbia Basin College. Mr. McKay remains active as a working artist.  He has been a guest artist with the Mid-Columbia Symphony on several occasions dating back to having won the Young Artist Competition resulting in two “first movement” concerto performances with the orchestra.  Since moving back to the Tri-Cities after his time in Texas, he has performed the Beethoven Concerto #5, the Carnival of the Animals by Saint Saens with Libby Watrous, the Gershwin Concerto in F, as well as the Rhapsody in Blue and Mozart’s Piano Concerto K. 453 with the Mid-Columbia Symphony.   Additionally, he has also performed the Rhapsody in Blue with the Inland Northwest Musicians and twice with the Columbia Basin Concert Band.  As a jazz pianist, he plays in the Columbia Basin Jazz Orchestra (CBJO) which has backed up jazz artists under the umbrella of the Jazz Unlimited Festival at CBC.   In 2018, he and Dr. Jody Graves from Eastern Washington University made their two-piano team debut with a performance of the Carnival of the Animals at CBC with the INWM and Lee Freese conducting.

As an arts administrator, in 2005, he was appointed by Governor Locke as a commissioner for the Washington State Arts Commission and in 2007 was re-appointed by Governor Gregoire and continues to remain active in Washington State arts advocacy.  At Columbia Basin College, along with the faculty and staff, he oversees the Jazz Unlimited Festival, The Summer Showcase Series, The Community Lecture Series and The Esvelt Gallery.  Bill continues to be active on various community arts boards.