Curt Wilson was born in Fort Worth and is a graduate of Polytechnic High School. He has a BME and MM degrees from TCU. Additional study in composition was completed at the University of North Texas. Curt Wilson has taught at TCU since 1976. Prior to that, he served as Director of Bands at Ashland University; Ashland, Ohio (1972-1976). From 1968-1972, he was on the music faculty at Valley City State College; Valley City, North Dakota. As a professional woodwind performer, he has played with Fred Waring and the Pennsylvaians (1966-68), Tex Beneke, Harvey Anderson Orchestra, and many others. In addition to conducting marching bands, wind ensembles, and jazz ensembles, he has also conducted the TCU Symphony, Fort Worth Chamber Orchestra, and Dallas Symphony Orchestra. He has also served as Director of the Fort Worth Symphony Concerts in the Garden Big Band since 1998.

Mr. Wilson has written more than 150 compositions and arrangements for marching band, wind ensemble, jazz ensemble, symphony orchestra, chamber ensembles, and choir. His arrangement of Dave Brubeck's Blue Rondo Ala Turk was performed in 2002 at the International Clarinet Conference held in Stockholm, Sweden by the Texas Clarinet Consort. They performed his Antonio Carlos Jobim Medley at the University of BC in Vancouver in 2007 His Concerto for Trumpet and Wind Ensemble was performed at the International Trumpet Guild (ITG) Conference in 2003 by Los Angeles studio trumpet artist Jon Lewis. In July of 2004, his elegy for solo Tuba and band (Rainbows) was performed at the International Tuba/Euphonium Conference in Budapest, Hungary by German tuba artist Marcus Theinert. In 2005, the New York Pops Symphony Orchestra and the TCU-Fort Worth Concert Choir performed his Christmas music in Carnegie Hall. Curt Wilson has music published by Really Good Music, Inc., Shoop Publications, Triplo Press and Walrus Music. As a member of ASCAP, he has received an ASCA(PLUS) Award every year since 1985 honoring his commitment to the composing and performance of serious concert music.

Curt Wilson has been a member of Local 72/147 AFM since 1959 and is a charter member of IAJE (International Association of Jazz Educators). He has served as the president of the Texas Unit of IAJE. In addition to conducting numerous All-Region jazz ensembles throughout the state, in 2001, Professor Wilson conducted the Texas All-State Community College All Star Jazz Ensemble at the annual TMEA Convention in San Antonio. The TCU Jazz Ensemble has appeared as the featured college jazz ensemble at TMEA six times since 1976. Mr. Wilson is an honorary member of Kappa Kappa Psi, Tau Beta Sigma, Phi Mu Epsilon, and Phi Kappa Lambda, plus International Who's Who in Music, Outstanding Young Men in America, Who's Who in Fine Arts Education, and Who's Who is American Education. Curt Wilson has been the recipient of the Dean's Teaching Award (2001) and the College of Fine Arts Award for Distinguished Achievement as a Creative Teacher and Scholar (2005).