Austin Beck was born in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, and grew up in Appleton, Wisconsin. He moved to Los Gatos, California in 2020 and is currently a senior at Los Gatos High School. Austin’s first instrument was piano, which he started playing at age three, taking lessons from his mother for nine years. He started playing guitar at age six, then bass guitar at age eleven, taking lessons for both instruments for several years. In fourth grade, Austin started playing double bass in his elementary school orchestra, and it quickly became his favorite instrument.

Austin studied with Susan Sullivan in Appleton, Wisconsin for three years, and has been studying with Bruce Moyer since moving to Los Gatos in 2020. In 8th and 9th grade, he qualified for the Wisconsin Solo and Ensemble State Festival. In 10th grade, Austin played in the California All-State String Orchestra, and the California All-State Symphony Orchestra in 11th grade.

Throughout high school, Austin played in the Fox Valley Symphony Youth Orchestra, San Jose Youth Chamber Orchestra, San Jose Youth Symphony, and San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra. Austin was also very active in his school’s music program. In addition to being the principal bassist in the Los Gatos High School Chamber Orchestra, he played in jazz band for three years, marched tenors in the Los Gatos High School Marching Band in 11th grade, and played in the pit orchestra in the school’s production of Little Women.

Now, Austin studies with Professor James VanDemark at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, where he is a candidate for a Bachelor of Music in Double Bass Performance.