{"id":190,"date":"2023-03-26T07:15:05","date_gmt":"2023-03-26T07:15:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kansasbandmasters.com\/?page_id=190"},"modified":"2025-10-21T01:05:54","modified_gmt":"2025-10-21T01:05:54","slug":"outstanding-young-bandmaster","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/kansasbandmasters.com\/?page_id=190","title":{"rendered":"Outstanding Young Bandmaster"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The Outstanding Young Bandmaster Award is presented annually by Phi Beta Mu and KBA to young directors.&nbsp;<br><br>Selection Considerations<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Open to any director who is making a significant impact in their first years of teaching.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Eligible for nomination through seventh year of teaching.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Service has helped &#8220;Build Better Bands for Kansas&#8221;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>How to nominate a candidate:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Please fill out your name, e-mail address, and phone number in the fields below.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Click the &#8220;Add&#8221; button to enter your nominee&#8217;s information.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Once you have entered the first candidate, you may enter additional candidates by repeating the process above.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>When you have finished adding candidates, click &#8220;Submit Nomination(s)&#8221;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><div id=\"SFctr\" class=\"SF\" data-org=\"30130\" data-ini=\"!form\/OutstandingYoungBandmasterNominationForm\" data-fnd=\"Search\" data-scl=\"0\" data-out=\"https:\/\/kansasbandmasters.com\" data-sfi=\"1\" style=\"position:relative;height:auto\"><div id=\"SFpne\" style=\"position:relative\"><div class=\"SFpne\">Loading&#8230;<\/div><\/div><div id=\"SFfin\" style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/div><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">2025 Recipients <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">Mikayla Bauer &amp; Preston Thomas<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:34% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1209\" src=\"https:\/\/kansasbandmasters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/319e93c698c51d6ded8891ef50452950-2.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2831 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kansasbandmasters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/319e93c698c51d6ded8891ef50452950-2.png 1200w, https:\/\/kansasbandmasters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/319e93c698c51d6ded8891ef50452950-2-298x300.png 298w, https:\/\/kansasbandmasters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/319e93c698c51d6ded8891ef50452950-2-1016x1024.png 1016w, https:\/\/kansasbandmasters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/319e93c698c51d6ded8891ef50452950-2-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/kansasbandmasters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/319e93c698c51d6ded8891ef50452950-2-768x774.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p><strong>Preston Thomas i<\/strong>s 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 &#8220;Brave Time.&#8221; 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.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text has-media-on-the-right is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:auto 34%\"><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p><strong>Mikayla Bauer<\/strong> 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&#8217;s degree in Music Education from Pittsburg State University in 2018 and completed her Master&#8217;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\u2014it 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1016\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/kansasbandmasters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/703fb1fefb8c496facd8fcdf50452951-1-1016x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2822 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kansasbandmasters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/703fb1fefb8c496facd8fcdf50452951-1-1016x1024.png 1016w, https:\/\/kansasbandmasters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/703fb1fefb8c496facd8fcdf50452951-1-298x300.png 298w, https:\/\/kansasbandmasters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/703fb1fefb8c496facd8fcdf50452951-1-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/kansasbandmasters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/703fb1fefb8c496facd8fcdf50452951-1-768x774.png 768w, https:\/\/kansasbandmasters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/703fb1fefb8c496facd8fcdf50452951-1.png 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1016px) 100vw, 1016px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Past Recipients<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>2024 Abigail Baeten &amp; Madison Hines Schmoll<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>2023 Tristan Bartley &amp; Philip Kaul<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>2022  Abby Giles &amp; Stephanie Bodley<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>2021  Carl Rowles<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>2020  Ashten Anderson<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>2019   Christine Lovell &amp; Casey Hands<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>2018  Robert Davis &amp; Ryan Partin<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>2017  Erik R. Stone<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>2016  Jamie Hayes &amp; Katie Topp<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>2015  Jennifer Antonetti &amp; Matt Keopfer<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>2014  Jordan Brown &amp; Michael Mapp<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>2013  Daniel Freeman &amp; Daniel Kirk<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>2012  Tim Shade &amp; Shawn Knopp<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>2011  Sarah Bricker &amp; Courtney Williams<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>2010  Darren Brooks<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>2009  Leslie Barton &amp; Erin Shelton<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>2008  Erika Clausing &amp; Shawn Henderson<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>2007  Tremon Kizer &amp; Bryan Kirk<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>2006  Quentin Breese &amp; Erica Lindberg<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>2005  Jan Friesen &amp; Justin Love<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>2004  Luke Chafee<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>2003  Dan Wooge &amp; Ken Hakoda<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>2002  Chris Reynolds<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>2001  Mike Jones &amp; Eric Stambaugh<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>2000  Rochelle Goter &amp; Elton Armbrister<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1999  Patrick Kelly &amp; Chris Richmond<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1998  Benjamin Cary Stahly &amp; David Wiggins<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1997  Janelle Brower<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1996  Stuart A. Roegge<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1995  Joel A. Gittle<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1994  Katie Grose &amp; Bill Thomas<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1993  David Rankin<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1992  Robert E. Lee III<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1991  Craig Manteuffel<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1990  Steve Adams &amp; Chris Forssberg<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1989  Ken Honas &amp; DeGaye Latta<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1988  Jeff Pelischek &amp; Lynette Pelischek<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1987  Marla Weber<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1986  Steve Gordon<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1985  Johannah Cox &amp; Connie Thompson<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1984  Jeff Hodges<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1983  Marc Webster<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Outstanding Young Bandmaster Award is presented annually by Phi Beta Mu and KBA to young directors.&nbsp; Selection Considerations How to nominate a candidate: Loading&#8230; 2025 Recipients Mikayla Bauer &amp; 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 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kansasbandmasters.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/190"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kansasbandmasters.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kansasbandmasters.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kansasbandmasters.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kansasbandmasters.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=190"}],"version-history":[{"count":23,"href":"https:\/\/kansasbandmasters.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/190\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2833,"href":"https:\/\/kansasbandmasters.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/190\/revisions\/2833"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kansasbandmasters.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=190"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}