Meet the Conductors
Dr. Frank Tracz - Director of Bands |
Dr. Frank Tracz is a Professor of Music and Director of Bands at Kansas State University, where he directs the Wind Ensemble and Marching Band, teaches conducting, and oversees the band program. He earned a B.M.E. from The Ohio State University, an M.M. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a Ph.D. from Ohio State. Dr. Tracz has extensive experience as a public school educator and has served in various leadership roles, including Assistant Director of Bands at Syracuse University and Director of Bands at Morehead State University. He has conducted and adjudicated bands internationally, including in Canada, Singapore, and Australia, and has led ensembles that performed at notable venues such as Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center. Dr. Tracz is a faculty member at the Conn-Selmer Institute and adjunct faculty at the American Band College. He has received numerous awards, including the Stamey Award, Kansas Bandmasters Outstanding Director award, and the Sudler Trophy in 2015 for the Kansas State Marching Band. Additionally, he raised over $5 million for the construction of the West Stadium Band Hall. A Lowell Mason Fellow and elected member of the American Bandmasters Association, Dr. Tracz is also a contributing author to the Teaching Music Through Performance in Band series. He is married to Geralyn and has three daughters and a grandson. |
Dr. Frank Tracz is a Professor of Music and Director of Bands at Kansas State University, where he directs the Wind Ensemble and Marching Band, teaches conducting, and oversees the band program. He earned a B.M.E. from The Ohio State University, an M.M. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a Ph.D. from Ohio State. Dr. Tracz has extensive experience as a public school educator and has served in various leadership roles, including Assistant Director of Bands at Syracuse University and Director of Bands at Morehead State University. He has conducted and adjudicated bands internationally, including in Canada, Singapore, and Australia, and has led ensembles that performed at notable venues such as Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center.
Benjamin Rajewski - Graduate Assisstant |
| Ben is currently a second-year graduate student pursuing his Master’s in Music Degree with an emphasis in Instrumental Conducting. He received his Bachelors in Music Education from Kansas State University in 2020. Ben taught for three years in Winfield, KS, where he was the Director of Bands at Winfield High School and the Assistant Director of Bands at Winfield Middle School. Ben enjoys spending his free time with his dog Peanut Butter, being outdoors, and exercising. |
Sharyn Worcester - Graduate Assisstant |
Sharyn has a diverse and extensive career in music education, performance, and adjudication throughout Kansas. She holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree and a Master of Music Education in Instrumental Conducting from Kansas State University where she studied under the direction of Dr. Frank Tracz, Director of Bands, and Dr. Jacqueline Fassler-Kerstetter, Associate Professor of Horn. Prior to continuing her studies, Sharyn served as the Lead Academic Advisor for the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance at K-State. In this role, she facilitated the academic progress for all undergraduate majors and minors in these degree tracks. As part of this work, in 2019, she presented "Music Beyond High School," at the Kansas Music Educator's Association In-Service Workshop to provide resources for educators to prepare their students for college music programs or careers. Additional duties included membership in the Music Course and Curriculum Committee and the Music Recruitment Committee, as well as advising Sigma Alpha Iota, the International Music Fraternity for Women. Prior to her appointment at K-State, Sharyn served nine years as Instrumental Music Director at Junction City High School where her teaching duties included marching band, concert band, wind ensemble, music theory, music appreciation, and piano classes. Her bands have performed across Kansas and the United States including the Memorial Day Parade in Washington, D.C., the Fiesta Bowl Parade in Tempe, Arizona, and the Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tennessee. |
Rich Ebersole - Graduate Assisstant |
| Rich a native of Pennsylvania, Rich is a graduate of Temple University in Philadelphia PA, where he majored in Music Education and Jazz Studies. Upon graduating, Rich moved to Arizona to begin his teaching career. Over his ten years of teaching in public schools, he has worked with all levels of students. He taught elementary band, strings and general music for two years before moving to the high school level. He experienced great success in building the band program at Dysart High School, from 11 students to 65 in four years. From there Rich moved to Liberty High School in Peoria AZ, where he again grew the band program from 60 students to just over 120 total students between Marching, Concert and Jazz Bands. Rich is married to Melissa, has a two-year-old son Elliot, and a two-month-old daughter Addison. Rich is currently working with the band program while pursuing his Master’s Degree with an Emphasis in Conducting. |
Rich a native of Pennsylvania, Rich is a graduate of Temple University in Philadelphia PA, where he majored in Music Education and Jazz Studies. Upon graduating, Rich moved to Arizona to begin his teaching career. Over his ten years of teaching in public schools, he has worked with all levels of students. He taught elementary band, strings and general music for two years before moving to the high school level. He experienced great success in building the band program at Dysart High School, from 11 students to 65 in four years. From there Rich moved to Liberty High School in Peoria AZ, where he again grew the band program from 60 students to just over 120 total students between Marching, Concert and Jazz Bands. Rich is married to Melissa, has a two-year-old son Elliot, and a two-month-old daughter Addison. Rich is currently working with the band program while pursuing his Master’s Degree with an Emphasis in Conducting.
