Outstanding Bandmaster
The Outstanding Bandmaster award is presented annually by KBA to Kansas Band Directors who have distinguished themselves through their musical accomplishments, service to bands, and excellence in teaching.
Selection Considerations
- Kansas Bandmasters Association past membership
- Service and impact to the Kansas Bandmasters Association
- Nominations for Outstanding Bandmaster can include: Current or Retired KBA Members (award may be received posthumously)
- Service has helped “Build Better Bands for Kansas”
- Contributions to instrumental music education within the state of 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)”
2023 Outstanding Contributor – Bob Bitter
Bob Bitter is native of Sioux City, Iowa. In high school he enjoyed participating in band, orchestra, choir, and musicals. He graduated from Heelan High School in 1965. Bob then attended Benedictine College, graduating in 1969.
His choice of a career was made in the fifth grade. The day he started trombone lessons, he knew he wanted to be a band director. He would like to thank his parents for always providing the best quality music education, and the monks of St. Benedicts for instilling in him a strong faith and work ethic. In 1978, Mr. Bitter was honored with the outstanding young educator award by the Pratt Jaycees. He served KMEA as Southwest district band chairman, president, and spent several years as a KMEA All-State Band sectional clinician. His favorite career memories include taking the Skyline band to Greensburg after the epic tornado to perform for the 2007 Greensburg high school graduation ceremony with the President of the United States in attendance, and commissioning “Acclamations” by Ed Huckeby for the PCC honor band.
Mr. Bitter taught band for 35 years at Syracuse, Pratt, Pratt Sacred Heart, and Skyline schools in South Central Kansas. He also spent 12 years serving the needs of music educators as the western Kansas road representative for Senseney Music. He continues to serve the needs of music educators as an adjudicator, clinician, and substitute teacher.
Under his leadership, the Pratt and Skyline bands traveled extensively, with the Pratt high school band participating in the Washington D.C. Cherry Blossom Festival Parade and the 1978 Fiesta Bowl parade and marching competition, as well as attending events at the United States Air Force Academy and Canon City, Colorado. The Skyline high school band participated in Festivals at Kansas City, Missouri; Canon City, Colorado; and Branson, Missouri. Bob would like to express his gratitude to his wife Lu, and daughters Frances and Robin for their constant encouragement, and all those colleagues who shared their ideas over the past 50 years.
Mr. Bitter would most of all like to express his thanks to all those amazing students who made his fifth grade dream possible.
Past Recipients
2023 Bob Bitter
2022 Randy Fillmore
2021 Craig Manteuffel
2020 Jim Mareda
2019 Ed Bartley & Gary Fletcher
2018 Lori Supinie
2017 Craig Johnson
2016 Becky Manning
2015 Reggie Romine
2014 Andy Clark
2013 Richard Fruhauf
2012 Harold Willis
2011 J. Bradley Bone
2010 Ron Allen
2009 Bob Marshall
2008 Paul Rimovsky
2007 Ken Fruhauf
2006 Larry Blocher
2005 Clyde Bysom
2004 Chuck Rouse
2003 Jacquelyn Dillon-Krass
2002 Bill Johnson
2001 Don Corbett
2000 Dee Starkey
1999 Clyde Phillips
1998 James Barnes
1997 Bill Funk
1997 Arch Martin
1996 Denny Senseney
1995 Gerald W. Fuchs
1994 Max Green
1993 Chuck Blackrim
1992 Bob Laushman
1991 Bob Cunningham
1990 Jim Starkey
1989 Leon Hale
1988 Frank Fendorf
1987 Charlie Molina
1986 Bueford T. Roper
1985 Joe Hume, Hume Music
1984 Alton Foster
1983 Cecil Knight
1982 George Johnson
1981 Ray King
1980 Merrill Jones
1979 “Viv” Meckel
1979 Lou Fruhauf
1977 “Cal” Calavan
1976 Lloyd Muir