Dr. Frank Tracz - Director of Bands Emeritus

Dr. Frank TraczDr. Frank Tracz, Professor Emeritus of Music at Kansas State University, earned his B.M.E. from The Ohio State University, the M.M. from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and Ph.D. from the Ohio State University. He has public school teaching experience in Wisconsin and Ohio and has also served as Assistant Director of bands at Syracuse University and Director of bands at Morehead State University. Dr. Tracz has served as an adjudicator, clinician, speaker in various schools and conferences and has conducted All-State and Honor bands across the United States as well as in Canada, Singapore, South Africa, Fiji, Australia, and New Zealand.

During his 33 year tenure at Kansas State, he directed the Wind Ensemble and the Marching Band, taught graduate and undergraduate conducting, advised the Band Ambassadors, and administered and guided all aspects of a large BIG XII comprehensive band program. Ensembles under his direction have been invited to perform at numerous State conferences, MENC, two CBDNA regional conferences, The Larry Sutherland Wind Band Festival at Fresno State, Carnegie Hall, and the Kennedy Center. The marching band was awarded the prestigious Sudler Trophy in 2015. The Wind Ensemble also performed at the International Convention of the American Bandmasters Association in 2019 in Loveland, CO.

Dr. Tracz is on the faculty of the Conn-Selmer Institute, adjunct faculty of the American Band College, past member of the Music Education Journal Editorial Board, contributor to the Teaching Music Through performance In Band series, and was appointed Chair of the Sudler Trophy Project of the John Philip Sousa Foundation. His honors include the Stamey Award for outstanding teaching, Kansas Bandmasters Outstanding Director award, Wildcat Pride Alumni Association award, the Tau Beta Sigma Paula Crider Outstanding Band Director award, named a Lowell Mason Fellow, and Phi Kappa Phi Honorary Fraternity. He has also received the Conn- Selmer Institute Hall of Fame award, the Kansas State Professorial Performance award, and was elected to the prestigious American Bandmasters Association.

Dr. Tracz is married to Geralyn, and has three daughters, Jessica Tracz Kelly, Kelley Tracz, and Carly Tracz Morris, and one grandson, Caden Tracz Kelly!

He has also directly or indirectly raised over 5 million dollars for the construction of the Tracz Family Band Hall, which opened in Fall of 2023. You can scroll below to see and look at the historical archiving of the Tracz Family Band Hall construction! Read a great article on the construction progress on the TFBH from the K-State Alumni Association!

Tracz Family Band Hall Foundation Logo



Existing Spaces
New Band Hall Promo

Band Facility Floor Plan

Thoughts from Students and Staff:

"Everybody loves a home, and everybody deserves a home. This would be ours. A facility like this would help us recruit and retain band members and staff. We are the only Power Five conference school without a designated home for the marching band. This facility, as we envision it, would be a symbol of respect and pride in our organization from our alumni, K-State staff, donors and community supporters.” -Dr Frank Tracz

"Having an indoor space that allows us to have rehearsals would mean never having to guess where we will be for a rehearsal on a rainy day in Kansas. Students would know that they have a safe space, no matter the weather, for their instruments, gear and for themselves. So many times, the directors have to wait until an hour before rehearsal to decide what the best option is for that day and hope we can be in a big enough space for the entire ensemble. This facility would ensure that we can keep doing what we are doing at a high level for our university.” - Allegra Fisher, former graduate assistant for K-State Bands

"Having an indoor space right next to Memorial Stadium would be incredible. I know this would ease a lot of the pressure band staff and band members have in carrying large speakers, field markers, first-aid equipment, drum major stands and instruments back and forth from McCain. Band rehearses three times a week, and if the time spent transporting things was eliminated, we could be so productive and continue to use that time to work hard.” - Ashton Thomas, Classy Cats Alumni

"Having indoor and outdoor rehearsal spaces right next to each other would save a lot of time and money. We could spend time working on the music indoors, all together in one place, and then quickly transition outside to work on our marching skills. This would save us the time it takes to walk from McCain to Memorial Stadium.” - Brett Butler, graduate assistant for K-State Bands

"To all our donors, every musically involved student at K-State thanks you. The gift you may give us will not only benefit the marching band students, it will support the entire School of Music, Theatre and Dance. Our ensembles and classes have overwhelmed the capacity of our one music building. Realistically, we only have two major ensemble rehearsal spaces to somehow host more than 15 different groups each week. With an entire building dedicated to The Pride, classrooms and space in McCain Auditorium will be free to host other ensembles, music classes, community programs and performers for all K-State students to enjoy. This project is the permanent mark of your love and selflessness to our music program that will last for decades.” - Meredith Casey, '21

"The marching band is a family to all who join. A facility for the band, one that allows us to rehearse, to safely store our gear in a clean facility and be together as a group displays the pride we already feel for our band. The band works extraordinarily hard on every performance. We love our community, we love our school, and we love each other. This facility would ensure that we can keep doing what we are doing at a high level for our university.” - Allegra Fisher, graduate assistant for K-State Bands

 

West Stadium Band HallWest Stadium Band Hall

West Stadium Band Hall

West Stadium Band Hall

West Stadium Band Hall

West Stadium Band Hall