MANHATTAN (KSNT) – After over three decades as a Wildcat and director, Frank Tracz is stepping down.
Tracz says his musical journey began in 7th grade, when he knew he wanted to be a band director. Since then, his directing career has taken off. He taught at a handful of schools before joining K-State in 1993.
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He said at the time that he didn’t even know where Kansas was, but the leadership at K-State is what led him to the school and ultimately kept him here.
“I looked around and said, man, there’s some people here that are staying. You know, because everybody’s always looking for the greener grass. Everybody wants a better paying job and better this and these people, as my dad would say, circled the wagons and we found a home and started to build a better place,” KSU Director of Bands, Frank Tracz said. “And there’s something about this place that just attracted me and just, you know, as they say, I drank the Kool-Aid, I drank the purple Kool-Aid, you know, and I’m still drinking it.”
Tracz’s hard work and determination have made him a distinguished figure at the school.
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At almost 70 years old, he is still directing hours-long practices in the summer heat, and his choice to lead by example is not overlooked by his students.
“He’s allowed to push us because he’s lived this. He’s lived so many ups and downs, and he’s not shy to tell us about his experiences and his life and what he’s learned along the way. So much wisdom. And I feel like he is the definition of mental toughness and grit and he expects the best from us,” Classy Cat, Olivia Bock said. “So we only want to give the best for him. And he’s done so much to set this band at a high standard. So it’s only right that we push to keep setting that standard higher and higher each year.”
“Pretty mind-blowing, just the layers of what he’s put into this. And I’ve learned a lot from that. I’ve learned a lot about myself,” Sousaphone, Chase Wassom said. “I learned a lot about leadership, learned how to push through mind over matter and make great things happen.”
While Tracz says he knows he’s hard on his students, it all comes from a good place in wanting them to succeed.
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His students say they appreciate him raising the bar.
“He cares about the students,” Head Drum Major, Colby Johnston said. “He cares about the people who are here and only wants to see them improve, but the program improve and them improve for themselves, not just to make the band better.”
Tracz says while he may be retiring from his post, he’s not stepping away from music entirely. And for the generations of Wildcats, he’s inspired; his rhythm will carry on long after the final note.
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