Welcome to the Black Hills Symphony Website

Jami Beck

Biography

EDUCATION:
B.A. Communication Disorders, B.A. Music Performance, Augustana College
M.A. Speech-Language Pathology, University of Kansas

HOW LONG HAVE YOU PLAYED WITH BHSO:
Since 2008

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE YOUR INSTRUMENT:
In 5th grade I decided to play the clarinet because some of my cousins played the instrument as well (my other choice was the horn). Clarinet seemed to be a good fit for me because my fingers could move quite fast and I think I would have been bored with the horn parts. I started playing the Eb clarinet in undergrad and really learned to appreciate some of its technical difficulties. I kind of became a "specialist" on Eb clarinet in graduate school playing in the University of Kansas Wind Ensemble.

HOBBIES/LEISURE ACTIVITIES:
Riding my horse Tigger (dressage and jumping), playing the clarinet (when I'm not practicing viola), teaching ice skating lessons, roller blading, skiing, swimming, going on a good hike, golfing, traveling, and drinking coffee on a daily basis.

ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
I am a full time speech-language pathologist at Children's Care in Rapid City. I specialize in working with children on the autism spectrum and I'm on the advisory board for the Autism Society of the Black Hills. I was a sub for the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra and played in the Sioux Falls Municipal Band, and also a German band while living in Sioux Falls. Currently, I teach private clarinet and saxophone lessons, play in the Rapid City Municipal Band, perform in the pit at the Okoboji Summer Theatre, play in the clarinet choir "Clarinet Madness," and play in the woodwind quartet "Windsong" for events in the Black Hills.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Jb3juniper@aol.com

Partial operating support funded by Allied Arts Fund, South Dakota Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts, and City of Rapid City.