Session Proposals

Dr. Alexandra Zacharella is Director of Bands and Professor of Music-Low Brass at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith. At UAFS, Zacharella directs the Wind Ensemble, Lions Athletic Band, Brass Ensemble, Brass Chamber Music, Trombone Choir, and Low Brass Ensemble. Zacharella teaches the low brass studio and advanced and private conducting. Before earning her doctorate, Zacharella was Director of Bands at L’Anse Cruese Middle School-Central in Harrison Township, Mich. and principal trombone of the St. Clair Symphony. Zacharella has performed in symphony orchestras and brass quintets throughout the U.S. and abroad. Zacharella is an active wind ensemble and low brass clinician. Zacharella has presented at the 65th and 70th Annual Midwest Clinics and over 100 peer-reviewed presentations, performances, recitals, lecture recitals, academic lectures and poster sessions on topics including, conducting and wind band repertoire, trombone, euphonium and tuba performance, women in music, brass pedagogy, and music education at the International Conferences of College Music Society, National and Regional CMS Conferences, the International Conductor’s Guild, the College Band Directors National Association Conference, International Trombone Festivals, International Women’s Brass Conferences, National Association of College Wind and Percussion Instructors Conferences, International Alliance for Music in Women Conference, Music by Women Festivals, CBDNA Southwestern Regional Conferences, South Central Regional Tuba Euphonium Conference, SliderAsia, Women Composers Festival of Hartford, She Festival and several state Music Educator’s Conferences and Arkansas Bandmasters. Zacharella holds a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Southern California in trombone performance with minors in Wind and Orchestral Conducting, Music Education, and Jazz studies and served as a graduate student instructor for music education and manager of the Thornton Wind Ensemble; a Master of Music degree in trombone performance from The University of Michigan, and served as a graduate teaching assistant for music education, and a Bachelor of Music in Trombone Performance and Bachelor of Music Education degrees from The University of Hartford, The Hartt School.

Music educators agree that the long-term goals of performance instruction include developing musical literacy, independence, and musicianship. This session will explore how to design early learning experiences that prioritize these foundational goals, empowering students to produce meaningful music-making experiences from the very first day of instruction. Through practical strategies and musical examples, we'll examine how to nurture instrumentalists to think and perform like developed musicians—starting from day one and supporting their growth throughout their musical journey.

• Band - Middle School
• Band - Secondary
• Orchestra - Middle School
• Orchestra - Secondary
• Collegiate