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Candidate Margaret Underwood

Western Carolina University
Director, School of Music
Director of Bands

Biographical Statement

Dr. Margaret Underwood is Director of the School of Music and Director of Bands at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina, where she has served on the faculty since 2015. An active guest conductor, adjudicator, and clinician, she works with ensembles throughout the United States and Europe and regularly presents at national and international conferences.

Dr. Underwood has been an engaged member of the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA) since 2001, when she attended her first regional conference at the Eastman School of Music, an experience that was formative in shaping her professional path. Since that time, she has remained actively involved in CBDNA at both the national and divisional levels. She has attended numerous national conferences, including Minneapolis, New York City, Ann Arbor, Austin, Kansas City, Greensboro, Nashville, and Athens, as well as divisional conferences in Rochester, Omaha, Normal, Natchitoches, and Tampa.

Her contributions to CBDNA include presenting research on Robert Kurka’s The Good Soldier Schweik Suite at the 2009 National Conference and on the music of Walter Hartley at the 2020 Southern Division Conference. She has also contributed as a conductor, leading a performance on the Forgotten and Chosen Gems session at the 2010 North Central Division Conference, and supported student experiences by assisting with the Intercollegiate Band at that same conference. In addition to her artistic and scholarly involvement, she has provided service to the organization as a member of the Evaluation Committee for the CBDNA Southern Division Special Election for President-Elect. In 2026, the Western Carolina University Wind Ensemble was selected to perform at the CBDNA Southern Division Conference.

Beyond CBDNA, Dr. Underwood has presented at the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles (WASBE) International Conference, the U.S. Navy Band International Saxophone Symposium, the College Music Society National Conference, and the International Society for the Research and Promotion of Wind Music (IGEB) International Conference, as well as numerous state music education conferences. Her research on Robert Kurka’s The Good Soldier Schweik Suite has been published in the WASBE Journal.

A strong advocate for new music, Dr. Underwood has participated in numerous commissioning consortiums supporting works by composers including Katahj Copley, Jennifer Higdon, Nubia Jaime-Donjuan, Hilary Purrington, James Stephenson, Dan Welcher, Dana Wilson, Julia Wolfe, and Roger Zare. Her ensembles have also premiered works by Roger Zare, Nubia Jaime-Donjuan, Dan Welcher, Paul Osterfield, Jennifer Merkowitz, and Andrew Hannon, contributing to the continued expansion of the wind band repertoire.

Dr. Underwood’s academic career includes previous faculty appointments at Mansfield University (PA) and Otterbein University (OH), as well as teaching middle and high school bands in New York. She holds degrees from the State University of New York at Fredonia, The Ohio State University, and the University of Minnesota.

      Vision for the Future of CBDNA

      CBDNA has been one of the most significant guiding influences throughout my collegiate career. Through its conferences and initiatives, I have built lasting relationships with conductors and composers, discovered new approaches to programming, and encountered a wide range of innovative voices. My growth as both a musician and educator is directly connected to these experiences, making me deeply committed to supporting and advancing the mission of CBDNA, particularly within the Southern Division.

      As I reflect on the future of the Southern Division, I envision an organization that serves as a vibrant and inclusive community for the exchange of ideas, creativity, and professional growth. At its best, CBDNA brings together educators, performers, scholars, and conductors to share not only successes, but also the challenges, risks, and lessons learned through our work. By fostering open dialogue and collaboration, we can cultivate an environment that encourages innovation, reflection, and sustained artistic excellence.

      As members of CBDNA, we have a unique opportunity to strengthen the wind band community as a dynamic center for artistry, scholarship, and shared learning. The 2021 CBDNA Vision Statement reminds us that we empower students and transform lives through music. By embracing both the evolving musical landscape and the strong traditions of the wind band, while championing inclusiveness and belonging, we ensure our work remains vibrant, relevant, and impactful.

      CBDNA can also serve as a powerful catalyst for creativity within the profession. Across our membership, colleagues are commissioning new works, developing interdisciplinary collaborations, exploring innovative programming, and engaging audiences in new ways. By creating more intentional opportunities to share both outcomes and processes, we can support one another and strengthen the profession as a whole.

      At the same time, innovation must be balanced with thoughtful stewardship. The continued vitality of the wind band profession depends on championing new voices while honoring the foundational repertoire that defines our art form. Tradition and innovation are not competing priorities; they are complementary forces that ensure both continuity and growth.
      Equally important is our responsibility to serve as an inclusive resource for institutions of all types and sizes. The Southern Division represents a wide spectrum of educational contexts, each contributing valuable perspectives. By ensuring meaningful opportunities for engagement, professional development, and artistic contribution, we strengthen our collective impact and broaden the future of the profession.

      At the divisional level, CBDNA can further expand its role as a hub for connection and exchange. Through conferences, performances, publications, and collaborative initiatives, we can promote the sharing of repertoire, commissioning projects, rehearsal strategies, and audience engagement practices, along with the experimentation and lessons that drive artistic growth.
      As President, I will focus on strengthening connection, collaboration, and access across the Southern Division. I will expand opportunities for professional development and mentoring through digital platforms and shared resources, while building partnerships with national, regional, and state organizations to broaden our reach. I will work to connect colleagues across all levels of the profession and create meaningful spaces for sharing ideas, strategies, and creative work. Most importantly, I will listen to understand the needs of our members and ensure that CBDNA continues to reflect and serve its community effectively.

      Ultimately, I envision a Southern Division that is connected, inclusive, and artistically vibrant; a community where members feel supported, inspired, and empowered to shape the future of the wind band profession together.