Trombonist Michael Underwood, Assistant Professor of Music, teaches music theory, brass, and directs the UALR Wind Ensemble. Michael began his formal musical education at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin, where he studied with Little Rock native, Nicholas Keelan, and graduated with honors. He earned theory and performance master's degrees from Bowling Green State University , and his doctorate from the University of North Texas .

Michael served four years in the United States Air Force “Band of the Golden West,” Travis AFB, California, where he was featured soloist on two concert band tours, principal trombonist on two compact-disc recordings, and member of the Travis Top Brass Quintet. In 2000, he won the University of North Texas concerto competition. Michael has also studied Paul Hunt, Vern Kagarice, another Little Rock native, Tony Baker, and the internationally known jazz artist and educator, Fred Sturm. He has previously taught at Ouachita Baptist University, Lawrence University, Arkansas Tech University, and Bowling Green State University .

Currently, Michael is in his fifth season as principal trombonist of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, a founding member of the ACME Trombone Quartet, lead trombone of the Dave Rosen Big Band, and private teacher in the Little Rock Metropolitan area. He has performed in master classes for Christian Lindberg, Jay Friedman, Ralph Sauer, John Kitzman, and Ben Van Dyk. In addition, he has performed with such jazz artists as J. J. Johnson, Jiggs Whigham, Bill Watrous, Diane Schurr, and Clark Terry.

Michael lives in Hillcrest here in Little Rock, enjoys traveling, hiking, running, biking, reading presidential history, and spending time with Claude, his cat.