Carl Becker and Son, Ltd. Staff
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Paul Becker
Paul began his career in 1971, at the age of 14. He was first trained in violin making by his father, Carl F. Becker, and grandfather, Carl G. Becker, and this training continued until Carl G. passed away in 1971. Carl F. Becker continued to train Paul in violin making, repairs, and restorations. Paul has a remarkable strength for adjustments and an exceptional ability to make instruments of all price ranges sound their best.
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Carl F. Becker
At the age of 16, Carl F. joined his father on the bench at William Lewis & Son and in Wisconsin. In 1948, the first collaborative "Carl Becker & Son" labeled violin appeared and the making continued. In 1968, Carl F. and Carl G. opened the violin shop we all know today--Carl Becker and Son, Ltd. Carl is currently making instruments in Northern Wisconsin.
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Lynda Becker
Lynda joined the family business in 2003 and is currently managing the office. She handles all the paperwork associated with running the office, including; invoicing, appraisals, certificates, and inventory. |
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Tess Buettner
Tess is Paul and Lynda Becker's neice, and joined the family business in 2009. She is the Office Assistant Manager, and handles paperwork associated with running the office, including; invoicing, appraisals, consignments, certificates, and inventory. |
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Brian Hoffman, MM
Brian began working for Carl Becker and Son, Ltd. in 2008 as a sales associate. Brian is an exceptional cellist and performs frequently as a soloist, chamber musician, and member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. Brian received his M.M. from Northwestern University (2008) and B.M. from Oberlin Conservatory (2006), studying cello with Hans Jensen and Peter Rejto, and performing in masterclasses with Joel Krosnick, Alban Gerhardt, and the Guarneri String Quartet.
In 2002, he served as assistant principal cellist of the National Festival Orchestra, one of 70 musicians selected from around the U.S. to perform in Carnegie Hall under direction of Lukas Foss. The recipient of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago's Critser Endowed Cello Fellowship, Northwestern University's Esther Yochim Fellowship, and the Greensboro Symphony Youth Orchestra's Armfield-Eichhorn Prize for outstanding musicianship, Brian was a national finalist in the 2004 MTNA Chamber Music Competition and the top prize in both the North Carolina Music Academy Cello Competition and the Grimsley Concerto Competition.His former teachers include Steven Doane and Julia Lichten.
Brian has performed live on WFMT Chicago's Folkstage and as a chamber musician in the concert series of the Banff Centre for the Arts, the Litomysl Castle (Czech Republic), the Merit School of Music (Chicago), the Meadowmount School of Music, and the Bowdoin International Music Festival. In 2010, he will present a debut recording and complete performance cycle of J.S. Bach's Six Suites for Solo cello. |
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Michael Lochner
Michael began working for Carl Becker and Son, Ltd. in 2003 in our repair services department. His repair and restoration skills are incomparable, and he has worked on many fine instruments and bows. He graduated from the Chicago School of Violin Making in 2004. We have several of Michael's violins for sale. |
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Colin Maki
Pursuing his fascination with rare and antique stringed instruments and their bows, violinist Colin Maki joined Carl Becker and Son, Ltd. in 2006 and was promoted to Sales Manager in 2008. As an active soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician he performs regularly in the United States and abroad. In addition to his experience as a performer, he possesses a unique understanding of the subtleties of string playing and has assisted numerous artists in finding the instrument and bow that is their match. He owns and performs on a fine Italian violin by Niccolo Gagliano c. 1780, acquired from the collection of Carl Becker and Son. |
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Michael Reis
Michael graduated from Auburn University in 1992 with a degree in Aerospace Engineering. It was in college that he developed his interest in classical music and violins in particular. After graduating from college he went to work in the aerospace field for a NASA contractor in Houston, Texas and there also began taking violin lessons.
His interest in violins continued as he became acquainted with violin makers and restorers in the area. Gradually his interest became more centered on the mechanics of the instrument and he began an earnest study of the classical makers. Ultimately, in 1998, he decided to pursue his interest in the violin full time and enrolled in the violin making school in Cremona, Italy. He studied there for two years and then returned to the United States. For family reasons he then went to work as a software engineer while continuing to make instruments at home.
Finally, in 2006, he had the opportunity to return to luthiery and was thrilled to be given the opportunity to work at Carl Becker and Son. Michael does repair work on instruments as well as maintenance of bows. He is especially excited to partake in the Becker violin making tradition, which happens during the summers. |
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