About the Host

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Alexandra Zacharella, D.M.A.

Director of Bands / Associate Professor of Low Brass
University of Arkansas - Fort Smith

Dr. Alexandra Zacharella is director of bands and associate professor of low brass at the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith.  Dr. Zacharella is an active wind ensemble/low brass clinician and has presented clinics and masterclasses in the United States and abroad. In 2022 Dr. Zacharella was awarded the Excellence to the University, to the Profession, and to the Community Faculty Service Award at UAFS. In 2018 they were also awarded the Excellence in Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activities Award at UAFS.

Dr. Zacharella has presented at the 65th and 70th Annual Midwest Clinic and has presented over 75 peer-reviewed presentations, papers, performances/recitals, lecture recitals, and poster sessions on topics including conducting and wind band repertoire, trombone, euphonium and tuba performance, women in music, brass pedagogy, historical brass, music of Central and South America, and music education at the International Conference of College Music Society, National and Regional CMS Conferences throughout the United States, 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 Women in Music Conference, Music by Women Festivals, CBDNA Southwestern Regional Conferences, South Central Regional Tuba Euphonium Conference, SliderAsia, Women Composers Festival of Hartford and several state Music Educator’s Conferences and Arkansas Bandmasters.

Under Dr. Zacharella’s direction, the UAFS Wind Ensemble has performed at two South Central College Music Society Conferences. Dr. Zacharella believes in new music and has been involved in several commissioning projects through UAFS, CBDNA, Arkansas Chapter of CBDNA, UAFS Low Brass Society, and most recently four commissioned works for trombone ensemble premiered by the Bordertown Bones at the 2023 International Trombone Festival.

Dr. Zacharella holds a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Southern California in trombone performance with minors in orchestral and wind conducting, music education, and jazz studies; a Master of Music in trombone performance from The University of Michigan; and a Bachelor of Music in trombone performance and music education from the University of Hartford, The Hartt School. They have served as past-president of the Arkansas Chapter of CBDNA and currently serve as the president-elect for the South-Central Chapter of CMS, on the board of the International Alliance for Women in Music as treasurer, artistic director and conductor of the collegiate community-based trombone ensemble Bordertown Bones, and artistic director and conductor for the UAFS Summer Music Camp Programs.

Dr. Zacharella is a Bach Artist and Warburton Signature Artist and maintains an active performance schedule on trombone and euphonium.