Michael Becker is currently Principal Trombone of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, Adjunct Professor of Trombone at the University of Arizona and Second Trombone of the Arizona Opera Orchestra. In addition, he is Bass Trombone of the Britt Festival Orchestra in Jacksonville, Oregon. Formerly, he served 6 seasons as Second Trombone of the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra (now the Hawaii Symphony) and one season 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. Michael has performed, recorded and toured with the CSO under luminaries including Sir Georg Solti, Daniel Barenboim, Pierre Boulez, and Ricardo Muti. He has performed, toured and recorded extensively with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra under Neeme Järvi. He can be heard as one of three featured trombonists in the recording of Michael Daugherty’s Motor City Triptych. Michael 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. Michael 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, Michael has presented clinics at major universities throughout the country. He has also served as adjunct professor of Trombone at the University of Hawaii, Manoa and the University of Arizona, and as Visiting Professor of Trombone at the University of Georgia and Northern Arizona University.
In 2005, Michael created and launched the annual Becker Low Brass Boot Camp in Tucson, Arizona. This weeklong, intensive workshop, with a focus on developing audition skills and preparation, attracts students and young professionals from around the country who are pursuing a career in symphony orchestras.
As an active soloist and chamber music artist, he has had two works written for him, Still Points Concerto by Peter Askim and a Characters, a sonata by Carmela Cinco, and has performed as soloist with ensembles including the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, The Idylwyld Arts Academy Orchestra, Tucson Pops Orchestra. Michael is a member of the Tucson Symphony Brass Quintet performing more than 40 concerts annually. He has been an active solo recitalist across the nation at major Universities and can be heard on his solo bass trombone recording, Songs and Dances.
In his spare time, he enjoys hiking, cooking and most of all tennis!