About Mr. Becker

About Mr. Becker

​         Mr. Bruce Becker grew up in Florida.  Before high school he mostly played golf and tennis.  In high school, he started playing the string bass and joined orchestra while he continued to do golf and tennis.  He also joined the swim and diving team and lettered in those three sports in high school. During his final year of high school, he was a member of the marching band playing cymbals.  After moving to Gainesville, FL and attending a community college, he finished his Bachelors of Music Education Degree at University of Florida. HE IS A BIG GATOR FAN. After graduating in 1992, he moved with his wife to Charlotte and taught 5th Grade Orchestra at 7 different elementary schools in Charlotte/Mecklenburg Schools for 9 years.  In 2001, CMS took away the 5th grade Orchestra program and Mr. Becker started teaching orchestra at Vance High School and James Martin Middle School. In 2007, he left CMS and started teaching K-8 music at Queen's Grant Community School in Mint Hill, NC. He was there for 11 years. 

       Mr. Becker has been married to his wife, Jamie for over 30 years.  They have two grown children. His daughter, Ariel, works at the Charlotte-Douglas Airport. His son, Maxwell, works for Celebrity cruise line.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE    

2018 to Present  Weddington Elementary School (K-5)

     2023   Annie KIDS (Virtual Playbill)

     2022  Willy Wonka KIDS (Virtual Playbill)

     2021   Schoolhouse Rock Live! Jr. - Entire school with a main cast that only meet virtually! - see "Pictures and Videos"

     2020  Virtual Choir during COVID-19 shut down (links to videos coming soon)

     2019   Seussical KIDS (All 3rd, 4th, 5th Grade) - see "Pictures and Videos"

​2007 to 2018    Queen’s Grant Community School (K-8)

Taught General Music to K-5th Grade, Orchestra and Band to 6th-8th Grade.

Arts & Science Council Representative (ASCAR)

Lead Teacher for National Heritage Academies North Carolina Charter Schools from 2014-2018.

Received Superior Ratings with Band and Orchestra at the 2017 Festival of Music at Carowinds.

New Teacher Trainer in 2014-2016 for music teachers new to National Heritage Academies.

Directed many after school musicals.

         2018    Once On This Island @ Queen's Grant Community School (6th-8th Grade)  (Virtual Playbill)

        2018    Disney's Winnie the Pooh Kids @ Queen's Grant Community School (3rd-5th grade)  (Virtual Playbill)

        2017    Shake It Up With Shakespeare @ Queen's Grant Community School (6th-8th Grade)

       2017     Disney's Lion King Jr. @ Queen's Grant Community School (3rd-8th Grade) (Virtual Playbill)

       2017     Into the Woods, Jr. @ Spotlight Performing Arts Academy (3rd-12th Grade) 

       2016    Annie, Jr. @ Spotlight Performing Arts Academy (2nd-6th Grade) 

       2015     Magic Tree House Knight at Dawn KIDS @ Queen's Grant Community School (3rd-5th Grade) (Virtual Playbill)

       2014     Disney's Jungle Book KIDS @ Queen's Grant Community School (3rd-5th Grade)

       2013     Schoolhouse Rock Live! Junior @ Queen's Grant Community School (3rd-5th Grade) (Virtual Playbill)

      2012     Disney's Cinderella KIDS @ Queen's Grant Community School (3rd-5th Grade) 

      2011     Disney's Aladdin KIDS @ Queen's Grant Community School (3rd-5th Grade) 

      2010     A Kid's Life @ Queen's Grant Community School (3rd-5th)

Many In School Musicals: HATS, A Kid’s Life, Squirm, Inventions Rock, and Science Rocks.

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2002 to 2007    Z. B. Vance High School and James Martin Middle School Won 12 grants from DonorsChoose. Worked with Charlotte Children’s Theater and the Charlotte Symphony to write an Opera Tragedy based on Oedipus Rex, called “Eddie Opus the Cop”. Host of CMS Middle School Honors Orchestra 2005 – 2007.

1993 to 2002    Elementary Orchestra Teacher, Matthews Elementary, Home School Taught orchestra at 6 to 7 different schools every year. Redesigned report card to include specific areas of study. Redesigned county letters to help communication with parents and music stores. Integrated core subjects into orchestra.

OTHER EXPERIENCE 

2015 to Present    Spotlight Players Afterschool program at Spotlight Performing Arts Academy, grades 2nd-5th, Annie, Jr. Attended Junior Theater Festival in Atlanta 2016, 2017. Awarded the 2016 Excellence in Ensemble Award at JTF. Expanded program to include 3rd-12th graders, Into the Woods.

2015    Spotlight Performing Arts Academy Summer Camp Aladdin Camp for Ages 7-11.

1994 to 2010    Executive Director & Conductor of Sizzling Strings, Inc. Created a high school assistant teacher program. Performed at Universal Studios, EPCOT, U.S. Capitol and many more places. Participated in many local concerts and parades including Mint Hill Festival, Festival in the Park, and Matthews Alive.

2001 to 2003    Director of Temple Israel Youth Band Created a youth band for middle and high school students. Wrote arrangements for many Jewish and Israeli songs.

1990 to Present     Private Studio  Beginning violin, viola, cello, ukulele, recorder.  Beginning to Advanced Double Bass.

ENSEMBLES    

2020 to 2022 Principal Bassist and Guest Conductor of The Lake Norman Philharmonic

2013 to 2015 Charlotte Flute Ensemble 1995 to 1998 Union Symphony Orchestra, Principal Bassist 1994 to 1996 Charlotte Philharmonic Orchestra 1993 to 1994 Charlotte Repertory Orchestra

If interested in a Music Teacher Workshop or Help goto https://sites.google.com/view/workshopsformusicteachers/home