David E. Becker was born in Huntington and graduated from Huntington East High School in 1944. From there, he joined the U.S. Army and was stationed in Paris, France. He returned to pursue studies in music, receiving bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. David returned to Huntington and worked for 15 years in the family business, Becker Music Store, from the early 1960s through 1966.
While working at Becker Music Store, he played in the Charleston Symphony (now the West Virginia Symphony) and in a professional piano quintet. In 1966, Becker became band director at Wayne High School, bringing the program recognition throughout West Virginia. Later, he conducted the Ashland Community College Youth Orchestra. In 1976, he accepted a position as String Specialist for Cabell County Schools.
Through his leadership, he co-founded the Cabell County Youth Orchestra. He was a member of the Music Educators National Conference and served as president of the West Virginia Chapter of the American String Teachers Association along with being the chair of the West Virginia All-State Orchestra. In 1985, he was named Supervisor of Music in Cabell County Schools. He was a member of the steering committee for the Birke Fine Arts Symposium at Marshall University from 1988-1992. He established the Tri-State High School Night of the Arts in 1989 and was a member of the CORE Committee for Ashland’s River Cities Cultural Council from 1987-1991. David was the founding principal violist of the Huntington Chamber Orchestra (now the Huntington Symphony Orchestra). He was a member of the American Federation of Musicians, Retired Teachers Association, American Legion, Huntington Museum of Arts and YMCA. He was a lifelong member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Huntington.
Becker was married to Carolyn H. Becker for 55 years and they have five daughters.
