As a guitarist, Riley has won top prizes and been a finalist and semi-finalist in several national and international solo competitions, including the ECU National Guitar Competition, the 10th International Guitar Competition at the Portland, OR Guitar Festival, and the Guitar Foundation of America International Competition. William Riley holds a BM degree (cum laude) from The University of Texas at Austin, studying under Adam Holzman, and an MM (with honors) from New England Conservatory, where he studied with acclaimed virtuoso Eliot Fisk.

William Riley has taught through NEC Prep for almost 15 years. He has a deep interest in developing the musical abilities of young people, and his students have reflected his insightful teaching with numerous competition wins and scholarship offers to prestigious music schools, including the Juilliard Institute, Peabody, Eastman, San Francisco Conservatory, NEC, and others.