Willis Ducrest grew up in St. Martinville, LA. He received a B.A. and M.A. in Music from LSU where he performed in many operas and was a member of the Men’s Quartet. During much of the 1930s, he spent his summers at the Seagle Colony Camp at Schroon Lake, New York. After serving on the music department faculty at the Oklahoma College for Women, he came to Southwestern Louisiana Institute (now University of Louisiana at Lafayette) in 1940, where he taught music for 37 years.

Ducrest was the Head of the Department of Music (later the School of Music) from 1947 until 1977. Under his leadership, the School achieved national accreditation. He was the general manager of the opera and music performances and oversaw the construction of Angelle Hall. He was very active in state and national music organizations and received much recognition for his service. He was a well-known vocal soloist, choral director, and arranger of choral music. He was active in Lafayette civic affairs, including long service on the board of the Municipal Auditorium. Many of the University Archives records on the School of Music were donated by Ducrest.