The Outstanding Young Bandmaster Award is presented annually by Phi Beta Mu and KBA to young directors.
Selection Considerations
- Open to any director who is making a significant impact in their first years of teaching.
- Eligible for nomination through seventh year of teaching.
- Service has helped “Build Better Bands for Kansas”
How to nominate a candidate:
- Please fill out your name, e-mail address, and phone number in the fields below.
- Click the “Add” button to enter your nominee’s information.
- Once you have entered the first candidate, you may enter additional candidates by repeating the process above.
- When you have finished adding candidates, click “Submit Nomination(s)”
2025 Recipients
Mikayla Bauer & Preston Thomas
Preston Thomas is the band director at Bonner Springs High School in northeast Kansas. He is the head director of the high school band, facilitates classes for small ensembles, revived the high school jazz band, and assists the middle school bands. Prior to this position, he taught 6th-12th grade band and choir in Medicine Lodge, Kansas. A major indicator of his success at Bonner Springs is the revitalization of the jazz band, a program that has been dormant for many years. This class has become a favorite subject for the students, and has been highly requested to play at several community events. The students enjoy the class so much that the ensemble has memorized Birdland and can play it at the drop of a hat. To increase participation in small ensembles, Mr. Thomas has led clarinet choirs, percussion ensembles, and brass ensembles as individualized courses. He has led classes on film score composition and introduction-to-guitar to reach students outside of band with the power of music through month-long seminars at the high school called “Brave Time.” Mr. Thomas holds a Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Music Education, both earned from Kansas State University. He is an active member of KMEA and KBA. He has performed in several community bands, is frequently requested for his skills in live performance technology, and expanding into the world of adjudication in marching band and percussion.
Mikayla Bauer is a composer, conductor, and music educator based in Oakley, Kansas, where she teaches band to students in grades 5 through 12. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Pittsburg State University in 2018 and completed her Master’s degree in Building Principal Educational Administration from Fort Hays State University in 2024. Mikayla is passionate about inspiring the next generation of musicians. Her dedication to education and music has led her to compose works that not only help students develop as skilled performers but also as thoughtful, well-rounded individuals. She believes that participation in band builds more than just musical ability—it fosters discipline, teamwork, confidence, and emotional expression. Through music, students discover a sense of belonging, develop lifelong friendships, and gain skills that support their academic and personal growth well beyond the classroom.
Past Recipients
2024 Abigail Baeten & Madison Hines Schmoll
2023 Tristan Bartley & Philip Kaul
2022 Abby Giles & Stephanie Bodley
2021 Carl Rowles
2020 Ashten Anderson
2019 Christine Lovell & Casey Hands
2018 Robert Davis & Ryan Partin
2017 Erik R. Stone
2016 Jamie Hayes & Katie Topp
2015 Jennifer Antonetti & Matt Keopfer
2014 Jordan Brown & Michael Mapp
2013 Daniel Freeman & Daniel Kirk
2012 Tim Shade & Shawn Knopp
2011 Sarah Bricker & Courtney Williams
2010 Darren Brooks
2009 Leslie Barton & Erin Shelton
2008 Erika Clausing & Shawn Henderson
2007 Tremon Kizer & Bryan Kirk
2006 Quentin Breese & Erica Lindberg
2005 Jan Friesen & Justin Love
2004 Luke Chafee
2003 Dan Wooge & Ken Hakoda
2002 Chris Reynolds
2001 Mike Jones & Eric Stambaugh
2000 Rochelle Goter & Elton Armbrister
1999 Patrick Kelly & Chris Richmond
1998 Benjamin Cary Stahly & David Wiggins
1997 Janelle Brower
1996 Stuart A. Roegge
1995 Joel A. Gittle
1994 Katie Grose & Bill Thomas
1993 David Rankin
1992 Robert E. Lee III
1991 Craig Manteuffel
1990 Steve Adams & Chris Forssberg
1989 Ken Honas & DeGaye Latta
1988 Jeff Pelischek & Lynette Pelischek
1987 Marla Weber
1986 Steve Gordon
1985 Johannah Cox & Connie Thompson
1984 Jeff Hodges
1983 Marc Webster