Dale Underwood is an American saxophonist best known for his 30-year career with the U.S. Navy Band through which he influenced the further development of the classical saxophone audience and repertoire.
Born in 1948, Underwood grew up in Cortland, New York. [1] He began saxophone at age nine and first studied with Alfred Fabrizio, and later Bob Carabia. Underwood attended Homer High School and during these years his teachers included Charles Roberts, Kenton Briggs, and Joseph Rioden. During this time, the Ithaca College band performed at Homer High School, and featured saxophonist Donald Sinta on Maurice Whitney's Introduction and Samba. This occasion greatly influenced Underwood.
In anticipation of attending college for music education, Underwood began clarinet studies, as being a saxophone major was uncommon at this time. His clarinet teacher was Donna Yacavone, who had recently graduated from Ithaca College and incidentally studied with Donald Sinta. After hearing Underwood's advanced ability on the saxophone, Yacavone connected Underwood with Sinta. While in high school at age 15, Underwood traveled with Yacavone to Ithaca, NY, to study with saxophonist Donald Sinta. Underwood studied with Sinta for two years. Underwood's career goals shifted from music education to music performance. [2]
Underwood graduated from high school in 1966. In the fall of 1966 he attended Onondaga Community College in Syracuse, NY. [1]
In the spring of 1967, he took an audition at Armed Forces School of Music in Norfolk, VA and was accepted. Underwood enlisted in the U.S. Navy May 1, 1967. [3] He entered the Navy School of Music, then officially joined the Navy Concert Band on July 1, 1968. By the fall of 1969, Underwood had established himself the saxophone soloist with the band.
Underwood's unique talent attracted the interest of composers who sought to write solo features for him to perform. Among these were Urban Carvalho's Song and Dance; Clare Grundman's Concertante; and Claude T. Smith's Fantasia. [1]
Underwood performed for every U.S. president from Lyndon B. Johnson until William J. Clinton.
Underwood held his position as saxophone soloist with the US Navy Band until his retirement from the military in 1997.
Underwood's US Navy career, in combination with a wealth of guest soloist and recital appearances, has taken him to 49 states and many countries including Canada, Cuba, Brazil, England, the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, France, Sweden, Italy, China and more. He performed with Boston Pops Orchestra, the National Symphony Orchestra, Australian Wind Orchestra, and the National Conservatory Orchestra in São Paulo, Brazil, among many others. [4]
Underwood established the International Navy Band Saxophone Symposium in 1978. [5] This annual event features numerous internationals guest artists, concerts, recitals, lectures, and master classes. [6]
Underwood was president of the North American Saxophone Alliance from 1988 to 1991. [7] During his tenure as president, NASA commissioned Sonata by David Maslanka. [8]
The saxophone is a type of single-reed woodwind instrument with a conical body, usually made of brass. As with all single-reed instruments, sound is produced when a reed on a mouthpiece vibrates to produce a sound wave inside the instrument's body. The pitch is controlled by opening and closing holes in the body to change the effective length of the tube. The holes are closed by leather pads attached to keys operated by the player. Saxophones are made in various sizes and are almost always treated as transposing instruments. Saxophone players are called saxophonists.
Frank Martin was a Swiss composer, who spent much of his life in the Netherlands.
The alto saxophone is a member of the saxophone family of woodwind instruments. Saxophones were invented by Belgian instrument designer Adolphe Sax in the 1840s and patented in 1846. The alto saxophone is pitched in E♭, smaller than the B♭ tenor but larger than the B♭ soprano. It is the most common saxophone and is used in popular music, concert bands, chamber music, solo repertoire, military bands, marching bands, pep bands, and jazz.
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