North American Saxophone Alliance

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

• 2016: Texas Tech University (host: David Dees)
• 2014: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (hosts: Debra Richtmeyer & J. Michael Holmes)
• 2012: Arizona State University (host: Timothy McAllister)
• 2010: University of Georgia (host: Kenneth/Stephen Fischer)
• 2008: University of South Carolina (host: Clifford Leaman)
• 2006: University of Iowa (host: Kenneth Tse)
• 2004: University of North Carolina (host: Steve Stusek)
• 2002: University of North Texas (host: Eric Nestler)
• 2000: University of Arizona (host: Kelland Thomas)
• 1998: Northwestern University (hosts: Frederick Hemke & Jonathan Helton)
• 1996: University of Florida (host: Jonathan Helton)
• 1994: University of West Virginia (host: David Hastings & Curtis Johnson)

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.

• Region 1: Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Alaska
• Region 2: California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Hawaii
• Region 3: North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa
• Region 4: Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Texas, Arkansas
• Region 5: Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan
• Region 6: Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Puerto Rico
• Region 7: Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland, Delaware, Washington, D.C.
• Region 8: New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine
• Region 9: British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Yukon, Northwest Territories
• Region 10: Ontario, Quebec, Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island

Publication

• The Saxophone Symposium is the official magazine of NASA (ISSN 0271-3705)

References