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.

Past NASA biennial conferences

• 2023: The University of Southern Mississippi (host: Dannel Espinoza)
• 2020: Arizona State University (host: Christopher Creviston)
• 2018: University of Cincinnati (host: James Bunte)
• 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: West Virginia University (host: David Hastings & Curtis Johnson)

Leadership

Founding coordinator

1976–1978: Frederick Hemke

Presidents

1978–1980: Eugene Rousseau

1980–1984 Steven Mauk

1984–1986: Kenneth Fischer

1986–1988: Ronald Caravan

1988–1991: Dale Underwood

1992–1993 William Street

1994–1996: 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

2015–2016: Kenneth Tse

2017–2018: Griffin Campbell

2019–2020: Christopher Creviston

2021-2022: Jessica Voigt-Page

2023-2024: Kimberly Goddard Loeffert

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 peer-reviewed journal of NASA (ISSN 0271-3705)

References