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John S. Beckford John S. Beckford, Dean of the Faculty and Professor of Music, has the Bachelor of Music, Master of Fine Arts, and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from the University of Iowa where he studied percussion with Thomas L. Davis. His performance experience includes Principal Percussionist and Timpanist for the Quad-City (Iowa/Illinois) Symphony Orchestra, Percussionist for the Greenville Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra where he served as principal for thirty years, and is an active free-lance musician for area orchestras, road shows, and churches. His research articles have been published in the Percussive Notes journal. He was a faculty member and chair of the music division with the South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts from 1982-1999, past president of the South Carolina Chapter of the Percussive Arts Society, a Yamaha Music Corporation Regional-Artist Clinician, a member of the Vic Firth Percussion Education Team, and an adjudicator for marching and concert percussion competitions. A native of Burlington, Iowa, Dr. Beckford began teaching at Furman in the fall of 1976. As the first full-time percussion instructor at Furman, his students have continued in careers as professional and amateur performers, high school and college teachers, as well as church music directors and members of the music business profession. As director of the Furman Percussion Ensemble, he led this group in numerous concerts before schools, arts organizations, the South Carolina Music Educators Conference, and for the state chapter of the Percussive Arts Society. A hallmark of his tenure at Furman has been his extensive service to the institution. Prior to his appointment as Dean, Dr. Beckford served on forty-three committees and was elected Chair of the Faculty from 2005-2007. As Faculty Chair he presided over the debates leading to the revision of the general education curriculum and the academic calendar, as well as crafted the plan by which these changes would be implemented. In March of 2008 he resigned his position as percussion instructor when he was appointed to the newly created position of Dean of the Faculty. Most recently he received a Faculty Renewal Grant from the Associate Colleges of the South, which allowed him to attend the Center for World Music three-week workshop in Bali, Indonesia in August of 2008. This experience was incorporated into a new World Music course that first taught in spring of 2009. In his spare time Dr. Beckford enjoys sailing and running, a never-ending project to revitalize his backyard, and his three grandchildren.
Office Phone: 864/294-2214 |
