William Francis McBeth (March 9, 1933 – January 6, 2012) was an American composer, whose wind band works are highly respected[by whom?].
The popularity of his works in the United States during the last half of the twentieth century led to many invitations and appearances as a guest conductor, where he often conducted the premiere performances of some of his compositions, the majority of which were commissioned.
His conducting activities took him to forty-eight states, three Canadian provinces, Japan, and Australia; and for a number of years he was principal conductor of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra in the capital of Little Rock.
In 1962, McBeth conducted the Arkansas All-State Band, with future president Bill Clinton playing in the tenor saxophone section.
The most outstanding of his awards have been the Presley Award at Hardin-Simmons University in 1954;[3] the Howard Hanson Prize at the Eastman School of Music for his Third Symphony in 1963;[4] an ASCAP Special Award each consecutive year from 1965 to present[citation needed]; the American School Band Directors Association's Edwin Franko Goldman Award in 1983; election as Fellow of the American Wind and Percussion Artists by the National Band Association in 1984; a National Citation from Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia fraternity in 1985; Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia's Charles E. Lutton Man of Music Award in 1988 for his achievement and continued contribution to American music;[5] Kappa Kappa Psi's Distinguished Service to Music Medal in 1989; Mid-West International Band and Orchestra Clinic's Medal of Honor in 1993; the John Philip Sousa Foundations Sudler Medal of Honor in 1999; and election as President of the American Bandmasters Association.