Tucson Symphony Orchestra
Michael Becker is currently Principal Trombone of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra and Second Trombone of the Arizona Opera Orchestra. In addition, he is Bass Trombone of the Britt Festival Orchestra in Jacksonville, OR. Formerly, he was Second Trombone of the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra and served one year as Principal Trombone of the Savannah Symphony Orchestra. He has performed and recorded in orchestras across the United States and abroad, most notably in the Chicago Symphony as first call substitute since being a finalist for a position in that orchestra in 1989. He has performed, toured and recorded extensively with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra under Neeme Järvi. Mr. Becker has also performed with the London Symphony, St. Louis Symphony, Lyric Opera of Chicago, the New York Philharmonic, Sir Georg Solti’s World Orchestra in Geneva, Switzerland, Baden Baden, Germany, and London, the Malaysian Philharmonic, Bergen Philharmonic, Charlotte Symphony, Alabama Symphony, and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. In the summer, he has performed at the Grand Teton Music Festival, Grant Park Symphony Orchestra, Ravinia Festival, Cabrillo Festival, the Chautauqua Festival and Arizona Opera’s Wagner Ring Cycle. Mr. Becker has also been Bass Trombone of the Colorado Music Festival and has performed in Yo Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble. He received his Bachelor of Music in Trombone from Indiana University and his Master’s Degree from Arizona State University.
As a dedicated teacher, Mr. Becker has performed and presented clinics at major universities throughout the world. He has also served as adjunct professor of Trombone at the University of Hawaii, Manoa and as Visiting Professor of Trombone at the University of Georgia and Northern Arizona University.
In 2005, Mr. Becker created and launched the annual Becker Low Brass Boot Camp in Tucson, Arizona. This weeklong, intensive workshop attracts students and young professionals from around the country who are pursuing a career in symphony orchestras.
beckerlowbrassbootcamp@gmail.com