Commander Allen Beck

 Commander Allen E. Beck

 Commander Allen E. Beck was the seventh leader of the United States Navy Band in Washington, DC.

A Defiance, Ohio native, he earned a scholarship to the Eastman School of Music where he performed under the batons of Dr. Frederick Fennell, Dr. Howard Hanson and with the Eastman Wind Ensemble.  He was a conducting student of Frederick Fennell, Robert Gerle and Donald Thulean.  He holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Catholic University in Washington, DC and he continued graduate studies a Catholic University and the University of Maryland.

Commander Beck began his naval career as a clarinetist with the U.S. Navy Band.  He served as woodwind instructor at the Navy School of Music, led the Pacific Fleet Naval Air Force Band and was with the Music Branch of the Bureau of Naval Personnel. 

Following his appointment to Warrant Officer in 1966, Commander Beck directed the Navy Band in Corpus Christi, Texas and returned to the Naval School of Music as Training Officer.  After commissioning as Ensign, he served as the U.S. Navy Band's Assistant Director and as branch manager of the Bureau of Naval Personnel's Music Branch with responsibility for the entire Navy Music Program's management.  He became leader of the Naval Academy Band in 1979 and in 1983 was the first Navy Bandmaster to earn a promotion to the rank of Commander through the Navy's selection board process.  Commander Beck was selected leader of the U.S. Navy Band in 1984. 

Commander Beck has marched in the Inaugural Parades of Presidents Kennedy, Nixon, Carter, Regan and Bush. He has performed for the Inaugural Balls of Presidents Regan and Bush.  He has also performed for Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and for the Heads of State of India, Israel, Pakistan, Japan, Turkey, and the former Soviet Union.  He brought music to 49 of the 50 states, as well as Canada, South America, the Philippine Islands, Guam, China and Italy as well as the Kennedy Center, Baltimore Maryland's Meyerhoff Symphony Hall and the Rose Bowl. He opened the National Celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the Statue of Liberty and the opening ceremonies of the 1989 Inaugural festivities at the Lincoln memorial.  He has conducted for such celebrities as Shirley Jones, Wayne Rogers, Sammy Davis, Jr. and Bob Hope.

Commander Beck is a member of the American Bandmasters Association and Phi Mu Alpha music fraternity. Defiance College honored him with a Doctor of Music degree in 1988.  Recent positions include Director of Bands at Defiance College, Associate Conductor/Music Director of the Lima, Ohio Symphony Orchestra and clarinet instructor at Ohio Northern University.  He is past president of the Association of Concert Bands and recently, the Executive Director of the Festivals at Sea Program for Straight A Tours and Travel.

Commander Beck resided in Melbourne, FL with his wife Gail and served as and adjudicator, clinician and guest conductor throughout the United States.