John R. Beck serves on the faculties of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and Wake Forest University. He is a performer with the Winston-Salem Symphony, Greensboro Symphony Orchestra, Brass Band of Battle Creek, Philidor Percussion Group and Blue Mountain Ensemble. A former tour soloist with the United States Marine Band, Beck also performed regularly with the National Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Washington National Opera, Baltimore Opera and the Theater Chamber Players of the Kennedy Center for 10 years. He has toured internationally as a xylophone soloist with Mr. Jack Daniel's Original Silver Cornet Band, the Brass Band of Battle Creek and the New Sousa Band.
Beck is a Past President of the Percussive Arts Society and has presented clinics at state Days of Percussion, the Percussive Arts Society International Conference, The Midwest Clinic, National Association for Music Education events and in Europe and South America. He is a recipient of the League of American Orchestras Ford Musician Award for Excellence in Community Service for his work as a HealthRHYTHMS facilitator involved in hospital research using group drumming with adult cancer patients.
