Gary Beard is the well-known conductor of The Lindenwood Chancel Choir and The Gary Beard Chorale, but is also in demand as a singer, organist, accompanist and vocal coach. He began his study as a prodigy, making his professional debut at age eleven, and his teachers have included such notables as Thomas H. Webber, Jr. and Pierre Cochereau at Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris. His vocal training has been extensive and has included study with Phyllis Curtin, Eleanor Steber, Thomas Schippers, Beverly Johnson and Wiley Tatum.

He made his New York debut at Town Hall in 1976, his Community Concert Association debut the next season, and gained early experience as accompanist for international opera soprano Nancy Tatum and mezzo soprano Mignon Dunn, among others. He has appeared as soloist with Opera Memphis, The Arkansas Symphony and Chorus, The Memphis Symphony and Chorus, The Denver Symphony and The Florida Philharmonic under such conductors as James Conlon, Andre Previn, C. William Harwood, Robert Shaw, Thomas Schippers and Kurt Klippstaeter, as well as in concert on the great organ of The Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris, in numerous oratorio performances, was twice a Finalist in the Metropolitan Opera Mid-South Regional Auditions. 
He is presently Minister of Music/Artist-in-Residence at Lindenwood Christian Church in Memphis, Tennessee, where he has developed a nationally acclaimed music program. Lindenwood Concerts, the church's concert series began in 1977, and has presented such artists as Jerome Hines, Simon Estes, The United States Marine Band, The Polish Chamber Orchestra, Simon Preston, The Vienna Choir Boys, Debby Boone, John Bayless, Art Linkletter, Jester Hairston, John Rutter, Sir David Willcocks, The American Boychoir, Eugenia Zukerman, and The Swingle Singers. He was appointed Director of Music and Community Events at Theatre Memphis, the country’s 2nd oldest community theater, in July 2004.

He has been honored by well-known composers Diane Bish and Dan Miller as they have composed works for chorus, orchestra, organ and handbells with dedications to him.

In 1987 he founded The Gary Beard Chorale, a professional choral ensemble which has appeared at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, The Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston, SC, and for standing room audiences in Vienna, Salzburg and Melk, Austria. Their first CD recording, "Awake the Trumpets" was released in 1995 and has been featured on National Public Radio.
He is Director of the West Tennessee District of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, and served as accompanist for both the district and regional auditions as well as The Memphis Symphony Chorus and was Organist at Temple Israel, Memphis for over 10 years. In January 1996, he participated in The Robert Shaw Festival Chorus at Carnegie Hall in a performance of Verdi's "Requiem" with Maestro Shaw conducting, and returned in 1997 for a performance of “Elijah” and in 1998 for Haydn’s “Creation” and “The Seasons.” His recent schedule has been diverse - from a Sioux City, Iowa Chamber Music Society concert to preparing the chorus as “back-up” for singer Barry Manilow and a return to Carnegie Hall for a performance of Brahms’ “Requiem” conducted by Sir Andre Previn. Most recently, he prepared the chorus for The Iris Orchestra’s performances of Beethoven’s “Ninth Symphony”conducted by Michael Stern.

 
He has recorded sixteen albums, including “Sing We Now of Christmas”, a best selling holiday recording of the Lindenwood Choral and Instrumental Ensembles. “Give My Regards - The Gary Beard Chorale Sings Broadway and More!” and “Sacred Gems”, were released in 2001. He also appears frequently in concert with Ryan Anthony, former principal trumpet of The Canadian Brass. Anthony and Beard is represented by Philip Truckenbrod Concert Artists of Hartford,CT (www.concertartists.com)

Gary Beard is the well-known conductor of The Lindenwood Chancel Choir and The Gary Beard Chorale, but is also in demand as a singer, organist, accompanist and vocal coach. He began his study as a prodigy, making his professional debut at age eleven, and his teachers have included such notables as Thomas H. Webber, Jr. and Pierre Cochereau at Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris. His vocal training has been extensive and has included study with Phyllis Curtin, Eleanor Steber, Thomas Schippers, Beverly Johnson and Wiley Tatum.

He made his New York debut at Town Hall in 1976, his Community Concert Association debut the next season, and gained early experience as accompanist for international opera soprano Nancy Tatum and mezzo soprano Mignon Dunn, among others. He has appeared as soloist with Opera Memphis, The Arkansas Symphony and Chorus, The Memphis Symphony and Chorus, The Denver Symphony and The Florida Philharmonic under such conductors as James Conlon, Andre Previn, C. William Harwood, Robert Shaw, Thomas Schippers and Kurt Klippstaeter, as well as in concert on the great organ of The Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris, in numerous oratorio performances, was twice a Finalist in the Metropolitan Opera Mid-South Regional Auditions. 
He is presently Minister of Music/Artist-in-Residence at Lindenwood Christian Church in Memphis, Tennessee, where he has developed a nationally acclaimed music program. Lindenwood Concerts, the church's concert series began in 1977, and has presented such artists as Jerome Hines, Simon Estes, The United States Marine Band, The Polish Chamber Orchestra, Simon Preston, The Vienna Choir Boys, Debby Boone, John Bayless, Art Linkletter, Jester Hairston, John Rutter, Sir David Willcocks, The American Boychoir, Eugenia Zukerman, and The Swingle Singers. He was appointed Director of Music and Community Events at Theatre Memphis, the country’s 2nd oldest community theater, in July 2004.

He has been honored by well-known composers Diane Bish and Dan Miller as they have composed works for chorus, orchestra, organ and handbells with dedications to him.

In 1987 he founded The Gary Beard Chorale, a professional choral ensemble which has appeared at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, The Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston, SC, and for standing room audiences in Vienna, Salzburg and Melk, Austria. Their first CD recording, "Awake the Trumpets" was released in 1995 and has been featured on National Public Radio.
He is Director of the West Tennessee District of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, and served as accompanist for both the district and regional auditions as well as The Memphis Symphony Chorus and was Organist at Temple Israel, Memphis for over 10 years. In January 1996, he participated in The Robert Shaw Festival Chorus at Carnegie Hall in a performance of Verdi's "Requiem" with Maestro Shaw conducting, and returned in 1997 for a performance of “Elijah” and in 1998 for Haydn’s “Creation” and “The Seasons.” His recent schedule has been diverse - from a Sioux City, Iowa Chamber Music Society concert to preparing the chorus as “back-up” for singer Barry Manilow and a return to Carnegie Hall for a performance of Brahms’ “Requiem” conducted by Sir Andre Previn. Most recently, he prepared the chorus for The Iris Orchestra’s performances of Beethoven’s “Ninth Symphony”conducted by Michael Stern.

 
He has recorded sixteen albums, including “Sing We Now of Christmas”, a best selling holiday recording of the Lindenwood Choral and Instrumental Ensembles. “Give My Regards - The Gary Beard Chorale Sings Broadway and More!” and “Sacred Gems”, were released in 2001. He also appears frequently in concert with Ryan Anthony, former principal trumpet of The Canadian Brass. Anthony and Beard is represented by Philip Truckenbrod Concert Artists of Hartford,CT (www.concertartists.com)