David E. Becker, 2021 Director of the LMEA All-State Orchestra.
In June, 2021, Professor Becker accepted the invitation to serve as the Interim Director of Orchestral Studies at the Baldwin Wallace University Conservatory of Music for 2021-22.
Awarded Professor Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2005, Professor Becker was Director of Orchestras and the Graduate Orchestral Conducting Program from 1984-2005. Maestro Becker and the UW Symphony Orchestra received critical acclaim for their international tours to Central Europe (1998) and Spain (2001). He was the Associate Conductor of the Madison Symphony (1985-1992), Music Director/Conductor of the Racine Symphony (WI) (1989-1993), and the recipient of the 2012 Distinguished Service Award from the Wisconsin Chapter of ASTA. Before moving to Madison in 1984, Professor Becker was Director of Orchestras and Graduate Orchestral Conducting at the University of Miami, Coral Gables while he also served as Assistant Conductor for the Florida Philharmonic. He went to Miami in 1980 from the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music where he was Associate Professor of Applied Viola and Conductor of the String Arts Ensemble. Other resident conducting appointments have included the Wisconsin (WI), Northern Ohio (Oberlin), Greater Miami (FL) Youth Symphony Orchestras, and the Brevard (NC) and Summer Music Festival.
Professor Becker was the Director of Orchestral Studies at the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music (WI) from 1974-1980 and 2006-2012. He was the recipient of the Lawrence University 2010 Excellence in Teaching Award and received the Honorary Degree of Master of Arts in recognition of meritorious achievement in 2012. He received the Distinguished Service Award from the Fox Valley Symphony (WI) for his work as the Interim Conductor of the Fox Valley Symphony Youth Orchestra (Appleton, WI) during 2011.Professor Becker was appointed Director of Orchestral Studies at Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas (2013-17). The TTU Symphony Orchestra was the featured University Orchestra at the Texas Music Educators Association Convention in 2015, and the TTU Chamber Orchestra and University Choir performed in Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center in May,2017. He also served as the Interim Conductor of the Lubbock Youth Symphony Orchestra for 2014-15.
David E. Becker was invited by The Ohio State University to serve as the Interim Orchestra Conductor for 2017-18, and he accepted the invitation to serve as the Interim Director of Orchestra Studies at the University of Iowa for 2019-20.
Mr. Becker’s career as an artist violist has included the Atlanta, Syracuse, Savannah, Louisville, Memphis, and Madison Symphonies, the Santa Fe and Miami Operas, the Sewanee (TN), Brevard (NC), and Peninsula (WI) Summer Music Festivals, the resident faculty string quartets at the Universities of Miami, Georgia, Memphis State, Oberlin Conservatory, and the Eduard Melkus String Quartet touring in the U.S. and Europe.
Mr. Becker is widely recognized for his dedication to teaching student musicians which has resulted in high school/university orchestra clinics, and guest conducting Regional and All-State Honor Orchestras in 45 states. Professor Becker was invited to guest conduct the Zhuying Symphony Orchestra in China, the NAfME All-National Honors Orchestra at the Kennedy Center, and serve as a clinician for the International Music Camp (ND), ASTA National Orchestra Conference, Ohio State University Summer String Teacher’s Workshop, Texas Orchestra Directors Association Convention, and the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic.