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Violin, Viola, Piano, Chamber Music

Stone Oak and North West

Student Levels Piano: Beginner

Student Levels Violin/Viola: Beginner to Advanced

JOHN BEARD (viola; violin; piano; chamber music), received a BM in performance from Indiana University, a MM at the University of Maine, and did further doctoral work in viola, theory, and conducting at Catholic University in Washington, D.C. His major teachers include William Primrose, David Dawson, Robert Gerle, and Vidor Nagy.

In Europe, John was Assistant Principal Violist with the Symphony Orchestra of Bavaria and the Gartnerplatz State Opera Theater in Munich, and also performed with the L’Opera di Genova  in Italy. In the US, he has been a member of the Charleston and  Savannah Symphonies, the Concert Soloists of Washington, and the Green Bay Symphony.

An active chamber musician, Mr. Beard has performed with many ensembles, including the Katadhin and Columbia string quartets, the Corona Trio in Germany, the Dorian Ensemble and Rochester Quartet in Minnesota, and the Conservatory Chamber Players in Wisconsin, and has appeared on Wisconsin Public Radio’s “Live from the Elvehjem” series in Madison.

For the past 15 years, John has developed his conducting skills as Music Director of several youth orchestras and community orchestras in Minnesota and Wisconsin, and has been a Conducting Colleague/Fellow under Harold Farberman at Bard College in NY.  Mr. Beard has also studied piano with Henry Fuchs at the University of Rhode Island and Joan Krzywicki, Suzuki Teacher Trainer, at the University of Florida in Coral Gables. John developed a Suzuki piano studio, and has enjoyed working with small children and using the Suzuki method to develop musical skills to the very young (starting at three years old).

For the past twenty years John has had a piano studio teaching both traditional and Suzuki piano methods, besides his violin/viola students.  He has prepared both string and piano students for solo and ensemble festivals, college entrance auditions and student recitals.

Prior to moving to the Austin area, Mr. Beard taught at the Forte School of Music in Toledo, and was an Adjunct Instructor of Upper Strings and Orchestra at the University of Wisconsin Marathon County.  In Minnesota, he has been an  Artist-in-Residence for the St, Francis Music Center, a teacher and coach with the D.C. Youth Orchestra Program. Currently he performs with the Valley Symphony, Laredo Philharmonic, Temple Symphony and Brazos Valley Symphony.