North American Saxophone Alliance

North American Saxophone Alliance
Formation 1 January 1976
President
 Clifford Leaman
Website www.saxalliance.org
www.nasaconference.com

The North American Saxophone Alliance (NASA) is an organization for saxophone players from around North America.

History

Following the lead of their colleagues in France, who created the Association of French Saxophonists in 1971, the North American Saxophone Alliance was established in 1976 under the leadership of Frederick Hemke. Since this time, NASA has offered state, regional, and international conferences attracting many important saxophonists to present performances, lectures and master classes, as-well-as found competitions for the next generation of classical and jazz saxophonists. NASA is the largest saxophone organization in the western hemisphere dedicated to the establishment of the saxophone as a medium of serious musical expression.

Members are required to pay dues, which vary depending on age. NASA hosts regional conferences for each of its 10 regions (information below). It also hosts a biennial international conference. The 2014 conference was held at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign on March 20-24, 2014 featuring classical saxophone artists Fred Hemke, Eugene Rousseau, and Don Sinta, as-well-as jazz saxophonists Jeff Coffin, Brad Leali, and Chip McNeil. The 2014 NASA Conference co-hosts are Debra Richtmeyer and J. Michael Holmes.

Past NASA biennial conferences

Leadership

Founding coordinator
1976–1978: Frederick Hemke
Presidents
1978–1980: Eugene Rousseau
1989–1984 Steven Mauk
1984–1986: Kenneth Fischer
1986–1988: Ronald Caravan
1988–1991: Dale Underwood
1992–1993 William Street
1995–1996: Michael Jacobson
1997–1999: Kandace Brooks
1999–2000: John Sampen
2001–2002: Paul Bro
2003–2004: Joseph Lulloff
2005–2006: Jonathan Helton
2007–2008: Steven Stusek
2009–2010: Debra Richtmeyer
2011–2012: John Nichol
2013–2014: Clifford Leaman
2014–present: Kenneth Tse

Regions

NASA is divided into eleven regions dividing Canada, the United States of America, and surrounding territories.

Publication

References