Sigma Alpha Iota

distinguished members NATIONAL ARTS ASSOCIATE a man or woman who is nationally recognized for distinguished contribution to the arts Award. Vali's orchestral compositions have been performed by the Pittsburgh Symphony, the Seattle Symphony, the Boston Modern Orchestra Project, the Baltimore Symphony, the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, and Orchestra 2001. His chamber works have received performances by Cuarteto Latinoamericano, the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble, Kronos Quartet, the Seattle Chamber Players, and the Da Capo Chamber Players. His music has been performed in Europe, China, Chile, Mexico, Hong Kong, and Australia and is recorded on the Naxos, New Albion, MMC, Ambassador, Albany, and ABC Classics labels. Dr. Reza Vali Dr. Reza Vali was initiated as a National Arts Associate by the Pittsburgh (PA) Alumnae Chapter in November. Since 1988 Dr. Vali has been a faculty member of the School of Music at Carnegie Mellon University where he serves as Associate Professor of Composition. He is a noted composer and teacher, combining his native classical music from Iran with Western classical music in his many compositional works. Reza Vali was born in Qazvin, Persia (now Iran) in 1952. He began his music studies at the Conservatory of Music in Tehran. In 1972 he went to Austria and studied music education and composition at the Academy of Music in Vienna. After graduating from the Academy of Music, he moved to the United States and continued his studies at the University of Pittsburgh, receiving his Doctorate in Music Theory and Composition in 1985. He has received numerous honors and commissions, including the honor prize of the Austrian Ministry of Arts and Sciences, two Andrew W. Mellon Fellowships, commissions from the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, the Boston Modern Orchestra Project, the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble, Kronos Quartet, the Seattle Chamber Players, and the Arizona Friends of Chamber Music, and grants from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and the Pittsburgh Board of Public Education. He was selected by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust as the Outstanding Emerging Artist for which he received the Creative Achievement Dr. Frank C. Tracz Dr. Frank Tracz was initiated as a National Arts Associate by the Kappa Upsilon Chapter at Kansas State University (KSU) in November. Dr. Frank Tracz is Professor of Music and Director of Bands at Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS. He coordinates undergraduate and graduate conducting activities, teaches classes in music education, and administers and guides all aspects of the Kansas State band program, which includes the Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, University Band, Athletic Pep Bands, and Marching Band. Under his direction the Wind Ensemble has performed at the Kansas Music Educators Association Conference, the National Association for Music Educators (NAfME) National Conference, College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA) regional conference, as well as regional and international tours. Under his direction, the "Pride of Wildcat Land" Marching Band has enjoyed the privilege of traveling to nationally acclaimed bowl games in support of the University. Dr. Tracz received the Doctor of Philosophy (Music Education) from The Ohio State University, a Master of Music degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a Bachelor of Music Education degree from The Ohio State University. Dr. Tracz has several years of experience teaching in the public schools of Ohio and Wisconsin. He has also served as Assistant Director of Bands at Syracuse University. Prior to his appointment at Kansas State University, he was the Director of Bands at Morehead State University in Morehead, Kentucky. He has served as an adjudicator, clinician, and guest conductor for all-state and honor bands across the nation, as well as in Canada and Singapore. Dr. Tracz is on the Faculty Board and is a frequent clinician for the ConnSelmer Institute at Notre Dame as well as a past member of the Music Education Journal Editorial Board. He is a contributor to the series Teaching Music through Performance in Band, and also researched and developed a Master of Music Education program that is now in place at KSU. In addition to being an inducted member of the Golden Key National Honor Society, he is a member of Pi Kappa Lambda, Phi Beta Mu, and Pi Lambda Theta. In March of 2012 he was elected to the prestigious American Bandmasters Association. He currently serves as the advisor for the Kansas State chapters of Kappa Kappa Psi, Tau Beta Sigma, and the Kansas State Band Ambassadors. Dr. Tracz is Past President of the Big XII Band Directors Association, Past President of the Kansas Bandmasters Association, and Director of the Manhattan Municipal Band. He has been honored with the prestigious Stamey award for Outstanding Teaching and recognized as a Mortar Board Outstanding Faculty Member. He also participates in the Kansas State Presidential Lecture Series. In 2007, Dr. Tracz was inducted into the Mortar Board Senior Honor Society and was recognized by The Women in Engineering & Science Program for his outstanding contributions to the university. Additionally, he was honored with the Outstanding Bandmaster Award from the Kansas Bandmasters Association and Phi Beta Mu. In December, 2006, Dr. Tracz was named a Lowell Mason Fellow by the National Association of Music Education. In 2011, he was awarded the First Annual Wildcat Pride award by the Kansas State Alumni Association, and the Tau Beta Sigma Paula Crider Outstanding Band Director Award. sai-national.org WINTER 2013 PAN PIPES 37 winter 13 PP.indd 37 2/12/2013 2:15:54 PM

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