Roughly 140 high school musicians made their way to campus last Saturday, April 18, for Doane’s Third Annual Katheryn Buell Band Invitational with guest conductor Dr. Frank Tracz.
Dr. Tracz (pronounced trace) is finishing up his 33rd and final year at Kansas State University as a professor of music and director of bands. There, he directs the wind ensemble and the marching band, teaches graduate conducting, acts as an advisor to the Band Ambassadors and administers and guides all aspects of a large BIG XII comprehensive band program. Earning an honorary doctorate from Doane in 2021, Tracz has been a longtime friend of Doane.
“[He is] without a doubt my greatest mentor in our profession,” Director of Instrumental Music Dr. Andy Feyes said.
High schoolers and Doane students alike both found a great connection in the music thanks to the direction of Dr. Tracz.
“I am very grateful that I was able to spend time with [Dr. Tracz], as he assisted the Doane Concert Band to become even better,” freshman euphonium player Bella Martin said. “I think that he has impacted the lives of many, and I am beyond grateful to be one of the many musicians that he has had an impact on.”
During his time here, Tracz held a presentation open to the Doane community titled “What is… and What Could Be!” on the Friday before the concert. Here, he talked about leadership within music.
“My big takeaway was that at all times we are teaching people about ourselves,” freshman Adeline Woods said. “It’s easy to blame others or the circumstances, but it really comes down to us and how we push ourselves and how we react to the things that happen.”
The Aurora High School Concert Band and Lincoln East Symphonic Band played their arrangements with their respective conductors, Dr. Tracz conducted one piece from each. Aurora opened the concert with “Tuscola Mountain Celebration,” a joyful tune by Paul Murtha. After their two songs, they transitioned to Lincoln East’s elemental list of music, starting with “American Riversongs,” which contained motifs of songs like “Oh, Shenandoah.”
Doane University Concert Band ended the concert with three songs—the last being a tradition in this concert: “God of Our Fathers” arranged by Claude T. Smith. This beautiful piece brought back the brass high school musicians to the side of the auditorium to surround the audience with the music.
Before taking off for France on their first international tour, Doane University Concert Band will perform next at the President’s Concert on Friday, May 15, at 8 p.m.
