clinicians and conductors

andy Thomas - conductor

andy Thomas is a graduate of Western oregon university receiving his Bachelor’s of music education and did his graduate work at Portland state and Western oregon university. Before coming to Whiteaker he spent six years in the m onmouth / Independence school district teaching music and drama at central High and Talmadge middle school. While teaching there his high school choirs were consistent trophy winners at jazz and choral festivals throughout the state. The past 8 years he has been apart the salem/Keizer school district teaching choir, drama, and video production. andy is a two time nominee for the crystal apple award, nominated for the teacher of the year by the salem symphony association in 2008, and received the educator of the year award in 1998 while working in the m onmouth/Independence school district. andy has enjoyed being a vocal clinician for various honor choirs and music conferences over his career. currently andy also co-leads a worship ministry at New Hope Foursquare church in salem and is a contemporary keyboard and voice instructor at corbin college.

The members of concert choir and mr. Thomas are extremely honored and proud to be representing the salem-Keizer school district and Whiteaker middle school at the 2010 om E a convention.

dr. Frank Tracz - clinician

All-State Symphonic Band Conductor d r. Frank Tracz is Professor of m usic and d irector of Bands at Kansas s tate u niversity in m anhattan, Kansas. a t Ks tate he coordinates the undergraduate and graduate conducting programs, teaches classes in music education, and administers and guides all aspects of the K- s tate band program. d r. Tracz received the d octor of Philosophy (music education) from The o hio s tate u niversity, a m aster of m usic degree from the u niversity of Wisconsin- m adison, and a Bachelor of m usic Education degree from The o hio s tate u niversity. d r. Tracz has several years’ experience teaching in the public schools of o hio and Wisconsin. He has also served as assistant director of Bands at s yracuse university. Prior to his appointment at K- state, he was the director of Bands at m orehead state university in m orehead, Kentucky.

Session: You’ve Made It This Far, Will You Make It The Rest Of The Way?

He has served as an adjudicator, clinician and guest conductor for all-state and honor bands across the nation, as well as in canada. dr. Tracz is a past member of the music Education Journal Editorial Board and is a contributor to the series Teaching music Through Performance in Band. He also researched and developed a master of music Education/Band conducting program that is now in place at K- state. In addition to being an inducted member of the golden Key National Honor society, he is a member of Pi Kappa Lambda, Phi Beta mu, and Pi Lambda Theta. dr. Tracz has received many awards and recognition. at K- state, he has been honored with the prestigious stamey award for outstanding Teaching, and has been recognized as a m ortar Board outstanding Faculty member. m ost recently he was honored with the outstanding Bandmaster award from the Kansas Bandmasters association and Phi Beta mu.