October 10, 2022 I Appointments
Yamaha Announces Staff Changes at Yamaha Ateliers
Jim Becker, Photo by Eric Berlin.
Yamaha has announced that its staff at Yamaha Ateliers is growing to strengthen technical expertise in brass instruments, with the announcement of a new senior manager for Ateliers, the hiring of a new senior technical specialist and the transition of Bob Malone to a new role.
After decades of leadership as Yamaha Corp. of America’s director of Ateliers, Malone has transitioned to a new role as a consultant. Effective July 2, 2022, Malone now focuses on brass instrument research and development, artist relations, marketing and sales support. This move will allow Malone to devote more time than ever to these areas of focus and continue to give Yamaha ongoing access to his more than 44 years of experience as a designer, technician and artist-relations professional.
To fill the Atelier leadership role, Jeff Peterson has been promoted to senior manager of Ateliers. He will oversee the operations of both Yamaha’s Ateliers: Atelier-Los Angeles, located on the corporate headquarters campus in Buena Park, California, and Atelier-New York, situated at Yamaha Artist Services in the heart of Manhattan on 5th Avenue. Since joining Yamaha in 2007, Peterson has established himself as an effective leader of the Atelier-Los Angeles and a successful designer by playing critical roles in developing several new instrument models, including the CSVR line of clarinets.
Effective now, Jim Becker has been named as Yamaha’s new senior technical specialist. He will be based out of Atelier-New York, working alongside Yamaha’s respected senior technical manager Wayne Tanabe. From October 1989 to present, Becker has served as a brass instrument repair specialist for Osmun Music, performing wide-ranging repair and restoration services for brass players throughout the U.S. Over the years, he’s honed his skills as a player-technician to meet top brass players’ demands better. His recent work for several Yamaha performing artists includes Jens Lindemann and Eric Berlin. Though a trumpet player, Becker grew an outstanding reputation for trombone work, installing Axial-Flow valves on symphonic tenor and bass trombones for many notable players, which led to his move to Osmun Music in Boston from Madison, Wisconsin. Today, Becker is recognized as one of the U.S.‘s leading experts in repairing, customizing and restoring professional instruments. As a trumpet player, Becker has performed in many community music ensembles, most recently as a member of the Concord Band, Bay Colony Brass and Metropolitan Wind Symphony, among others.
Becker position as senior technical specialist at Yamaha is a new position created to strengthen Yamaha’s technical resources in the U.S. With his addition to the team of Wayne Tanabe and Bob Malone, Yamaha offers 126 years of experience and expertise to its artists and customers.
“Since 1989, when he arrived in Boston, Jim has been my go-to guy for instrument repair and modification,” said Eric Berlin, Yamaha performing artist. “He is the only person, aside from Bob Malone and Wayne Tanabe, to whom I entrust the tools of my trade. Combining encyclopedic knowledge, creative spirit, and meticulous skill at his craft with affable midwestern personal charm, Jim has been the premier resource for top brass players in New England for decades.”
