NASA Update, January-February, 2010

Greetings, Fellow Saxophonists,

The Biennial is nearly here, and we anticipate the upcoming NASA conference in Athens with mixed emotions. With the recent passing of host and past NASA President Kenneth Fischer, the conference will be a poignant reminder of the legacy that Dr. Fischer leaves behind through his students, colleagues, and fellow saxophonists. Dr. Fischer was a wonderful man, teacher, and saxophonist, and he will be greatly missed by many, many people. A tribute to Dr. Fischer will appear in the NASA March/April Update.

The Program Committee received over 500 applications, and the conference promises to be filled with outstanding performances and master classes. I would like to extend a tremendous thanks to Program Chair Scott Turpen and the Program Committee for their great work in putting together the schedule. Thank you also to Dr. Fischer's son Stephen for taking over the hosting duties so that this conference can go on: we feel certain that this is what Dr. Fischer would have wanted. Please contact me if you have any items that you wish to place on the agenda of the NASA General Meeting that will be held during the conference and/or if you would like to make a proposal to host the next Biennial conference in 2012. Watch the NASA and conference websites for updated information regarding the schedule and hotels.

I hope to see you in Athens!!

Debra Richtmeyer

For Ken

A saxophone is a thing we hold in our hands.

But it is the musician behind the instrument that creates the voice.

We speak during our life and our voices rise at different times, in different ways.

We encourage, we guide, we organize and we sing!

Thanks Ken, for your voice. It touched us all.

John Nichol