Background
Beard was born in Birmingham. He was taught by his father, a professional violist, and first played in public in 1907 at the age of six.
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Beard was born in Birmingham. He was taught by his father, a professional violist, and first played in public in 1907 at the age of six.
He was also a teacher, holding posts at the Royal Academy of Music and the Guildhall School of Music. In 1920 Beard was appointed to lead the spa orchestra at Scarborough, and from 1922 to 1932 he was leader of the City of Birmingham Orchestra. When Sir Thomas Beecham established the London Philharmonic Orchestra in 1932, Beard was its first leader, remaining there until 1936, when he had the choice between offers to become concertmaster of the Boston Symphony Orchestra or leader of the British Broadcasting Corporation Symphony Orchestra.
He chose the latter, attracted, he said, by the number and quality of the conductors and soloists with whom he would be working, and also by the very broad repertoire of the British Broadcasting Corporation orchestra.
Arturo Toscanini, who was a guest conductor of the orchestra between 1935 and 1939, acknowledged Beard as the greatest orchestral leader he had metropolitan Boult shared Toscanini"s view, and said that he knew of no conductor who did not also do southern
Beard remained with the British Broadcasting Corporation Symphony Orchestra until his retirement in 1962. He taught at the Royal Academy of Music and the Guildhall School of Music.
He died in Epsom. In 1925 Beard married Joyce Cass-Smith, who predeceased him.