Stephen David Beck is the Derryl and Helen Haymon Professor of Composition and Computer Music at the LSU School of Music. He currently serves as Associate Vice President for the LSU Office of Research and Economic Development.

He received his PhD in music composition and theory from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1988, where he studied with Henri Lazarof, Elaine Barkin, Alden Ashforth, Paul Reale and Roger Bourland. From 1985-86, he held a Fulbright Fellowship as a researcher at the Institut de Recherche et Coordination Acoustique/Musique (IRCAM) in Paris, France. His current research includes sound diffusion systems, high-performance computing applications in music, music interaction with alternative interfaces, music software for laptops and mobile devices, and virtual music instruments.

His music has been performed throughout the world, including performances at Weill Recital Hall, NYC Electronic Music Festival, Sao Paolo Bienal, SCREAM Radio Series, Concert Band Directors National Association Biennial, International Double Reed Society, North American Saxophone Alliance, New Music America, World Harp Congress, and on the Triforium Series in Los Angeles.

Most recently, he has been guest composer at the 2014 Southwest Electronic Music Festival in Phoenix, AZ, the VII Festival Internacional Alfredo De Saint Malo in Panama City, Panama, and at the 2013 Festival de Internacional de Inverno UFSM in Vale Vêneto, Brazil.  His music and writings have been published by G. Schirmer, MIT Press, and the Computer Music Journal, and his music has been recorded on the SEAMUS, EMF and Gothic record lables.

Beck has also presented lectures and papers on his research in interactive computer music and high-performance computing applications in the arts at recent meetings of the International Computer Music Conference, the Global Grid Forum, SIGGRAPH, the Teaching in Higher Education (THE) Forum, the Society for Electro-Acoustic Music in the United States (SEAMUS), and the Society of Composers, Inc. He recently finished two terms as a Regional Director (Americas) and Music Coordinator of the International Computer Music Association. He also has been on the board of officers of SEAMUS since 1988, including serving as President (1996-2000).