Biography
Margaret Underwood is the Interim Director of Bands at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina. In addition to conducting the WCU Wind Ensemble, she teaches courses in music education and supervises student teachers. Prior to her current appointment she served as Director of Bands and Associate Professor of Music at Otterbein University in Westerville, Ohio. Previously, she was the Assistant Director of Bands at Mansfield University in Pennsylvania and taught middle and high school band for several years in New York.
Dr. Underwood received her DMA in conducting from the University of Minnesota, where she studied with Craig Kirchhoff. She holds an MM in conducting from The Ohio State University, studying with Dr. Russel Mikkelson and a BME from State University of New York at Fredonia. She has also studied conducting with Richard Blatti, Kathy Romey, Dale Warland, Akira Mori and Robert Debbaut. Additionally, she has been selected for master classes with Jerry Junkin, Timothy Reynish, Helmuth Rilling, Richard Floyd and Robert Carnahan.
She is an active guest conductor and clinician throughout the United States. She has guest conducted ensembles in Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington, and West Virginia and has conducted at the CBDNA North Central Regional Conference. In 2009, she presented her research on Robert Kurka's The Good Soldier Schweik Suite at the CBDNA National Conference and the WASBE International Conference. The Journal of World Association of Band and Symphonic Ensembles also published her article on Robert Kurka's The Good Soldier Schweik Suite.
Ensembles under her direction have received praise from composers such as Carolyn Bremer and Carol Barnett. In November 2013, the Otterbein University Wind Ensemble performed at the Western International Band Clinic in Seattle, Washington.
Margaret Underwood is an active member of College Band Directors National Association, National Association for Music Education, North Carolina Music Educators Association and World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles. She is an honorary member of Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma.
Dr. Underwood received her DMA in conducting from the University of Minnesota, where she studied with Craig Kirchhoff. She holds an MM in conducting from The Ohio State University, studying with Dr. Russel Mikkelson and a BME from State University of New York at Fredonia. She has also studied conducting with Richard Blatti, Kathy Romey, Dale Warland, Akira Mori and Robert Debbaut. Additionally, she has been selected for master classes with Jerry Junkin, Timothy Reynish, Helmuth Rilling, Richard Floyd and Robert Carnahan.
She is an active guest conductor and clinician throughout the United States. She has guest conducted ensembles in Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington, and West Virginia and has conducted at the CBDNA North Central Regional Conference. In 2009, she presented her research on Robert Kurka's The Good Soldier Schweik Suite at the CBDNA National Conference and the WASBE International Conference. The Journal of World Association of Band and Symphonic Ensembles also published her article on Robert Kurka's The Good Soldier Schweik Suite.
Ensembles under her direction have received praise from composers such as Carolyn Bremer and Carol Barnett. In November 2013, the Otterbein University Wind Ensemble performed at the Western International Band Clinic in Seattle, Washington.
Margaret Underwood is an active member of College Band Directors National Association, National Association for Music Education, North Carolina Music Educators Association and World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles. She is an honorary member of Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma.
