the lawrence symphony orchestra

The Lawrence Symphony Orchestra gives approximately nine concerts a year, performing standard orchestral works as well as opera and contemporary music under the direction of David Becker. Guest conductors have included Robert Spano, Gunther Schuller, and Lowell Liebermann. Symphony orchestra concerts are well attended both by the Lawrence community and local Appleton residents.

Recent Repertoire

  • Bach B Minor Mass
  • Bartok Concerto for Orchestra
  • Beethoven Symphony No. 9
  • Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique
  • Debussy Nocturnes
  • Mahler Symphony No. 2
  • Mozart Symphony No. 41
  • Shostakovich Symphony No. 10
  • Sibelius Symphony No. 2
  • Stravinsky Rite of Spring

Conductor

  • David Becker

    Professor of Music

    David E. Becker was appointed Director of Orchestral Studies and Conductor of the Symphony, Chamber and Opera Orchestras at the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music (WI) beginning September 2005, and Professor Becker was the recipient of the Lawrence University 2010 "Excellence in Teaching Award." He recently served as the Interim Conductor of the Fox Valley Symphony Youth Orchestra (Appleton, WI), and guest conducted the Zhuying Symphony Orchestra in Guangzhou and Zhanjiinag, China.

    He was Director of Orchestras and Professor of the Graduate Orchestral Conducting Program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison 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) and Music Director/Conductor of the Racine Symphony (WI) (1989-1993).

    Before coming to Madison in 1984, he was Director of Orchestras and Graduate Conducting at the University of Miami, Coral Gables. 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. During the 1980-82 seasons, Mr. Becker was appointed Assistant Conductor for Maestro Rainer Miedel and the Florida Philharmonic (Miami). Other resident conducting appointments have included the Northern Ohio (Oberlin), Wisconsin (Madison), and Greater Miami (FL) Youth Symphony Orchestras, and the Brevard (NC) Summer Music Festival.

    Mr. Becker's career as a 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, and Oberlin Conservatory, and the Eduard Melkus String Quartet touring in the U.S. and Europe.

    In addition to his active conducting and performing schedule, Mr. Becker is widely recognized for his dedication to teaching young musicians which has resulted in guest conducting, orchestral clinics and All-State Honor Orchestras in 40 states. Upcoming conducting engagements include the Madison Symphony Orchestra, the University of Wisconsin Music Clinic Honors Orchestra, the NAJME All-National Honors Orchestra at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, a clinician/conductor for the ASTA National Orchestra Festival, guest faculty at the Ohio State University Summer String Teacher's Workshop, and All-State Honors Orchestras/Regional Orchestras in NY and SC.

    Contact by email: david.e.becker@lawrence.edu

The Ensemble