Before coming to WWU in 2000, Beck taught at Southern Adventist University for three years after teaching for sixteen years at the secondary level. He began his teaching career in 1982 and directed bands at Shenandoah Valley, Cedar Lake, and Auburn Adventist academies before going to SAU.

While at AAA in Auburn, Washington, he received the 1995 Lowe Teaching Award as teacher of the year, an award voted by the school’s faculty and students, and was listed in Who’s Who Among American Teachers in 1992 and 1996. His ensembles at AAA received numerous awards and distinctions, including invitational performances at the 1987 Western International Band Clinic, the 1990 General Conference Session in Indianapolis, and the 1993 annual meeting of the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges.

His band at AAA consistently received superior ratings in contests run by the local Pierce County League of Music Educators, achieving the highest score for bands four out of the five times they participated. It also won the Small Schools Division of the Lewis and Clark College 1996 Northwest Invitational Band Contest.

Beck completed a B.Mus. degree in music education at Walla Walla College (now University) serving as assistant college band director during his senior year. A bass trombonist, he studied with Lloyd Leno at WWC and with Paul Bauer and Leon Brown at the University of North Texas, where he did additional undergraduate study. He completed a master’s degree at Vandercook College of Music in 1988, where he studied trombone with Roger Rocco.

He and his wife, Karrlayn (Gruesbeck) have two adult children, Kaitlyn and James.

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