50 state string orchestra project

MERLYN BEARD + WATERFORD MOTT HIGH SCHOOL orchestra

waterford township, michigan

Ninety-two percent of Waterford School District students pursue post-secondary education, with Waterford students annually represent high achievement in academics, athletics, robotics, Destination ImagiNation, career and technical education and performing arts.

Taught by Merlyn Beard, Mott Orchestras offer students the following ensembles/classes:

  • Concert Orchestra [Course Title: Orchestra]

  • Philharmonic Orchestra [Course Title: Advanced Orchestra]

  • Chamber Orchestra [Course Title: Honors Orchestra]

CONCERT INFORMATION

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Merlyn Beard has been teaching for twenty-nine years in public and private school, as well as providing lessons for numerous private students. He has taught all levels of music from elementary through high school, and is presently the director of the Waterford Kettering High School orchestra program which includes Chamber, Symphony, and Concert orchestras. His Chamber Orchestra has received frequent “Superior” ratings at MSBOA State festivals and performs regularly around the area. Mr. Beard is the Treasurer for the Michigan Homeschool Music Network, as well as MSBOA District 4. In the 2008 school year, Mr. Beard was chosen MSBOA District 4 Orchestra Teacher of the Year, and MSBOA State Orchestra Teacher of the Year in 2020. Mr. Beard directs the OHMI Symphony Orchestra, who performed at YAC State Orchestra Festival and received a Superior rating this year. Mr. Beard directs the Symphony Orchestra.

Education
Mr. Beard graduated from Oral Roberts University with a Bachelors in Music Education. He received his Masters of Music in Orchestral Conducting from Oakland University. He has done post-graduate study in string music education at University of Michigan and orchestral conducting at Illinois State University. Mr. Beard has studied orchestral conducting with Maestro Kurt Musprat, Dr. Glen Block, Dr. David Daniels and Dr. Gregory Cunningham.

Personal
Mr. Beard has lived most of his life in Oakland County and grew up in Clawson, Michigan.  He presently lives in Oakland County with his wife. Mr. & Mrs. Beard have homeschooled their children for eighteen years, graduating all 3 who have graduated college and grad school after attending OHMI for all of their homeschool years. Mr. Beard likes to read and go traveling in his RV Serenade  in his spare time.

about
the 50 state
string orchestra project

2022-2024

The 50 State String Orchestra Project is a large-scale consortium commission that is bringing new music to classrooms and concert halls all over the US in the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 seasons, with educational and community orchestras in all 50 states commissioning a new piece for string orchestra, similar in difficulty level and scope to Stephanie’s 2011 work for string orchestra Beyond the Gate. Her consortium commissions for chamber music have already brought new string-centered music all across the world, from her 50 State Sonata Project for violin + piano, inspired by the work of her teacher John Kendall, and her World Sonata Project, which was commissioned by violinists from 35 countries in 2016.