The Distinguished Service to Music Medal is an award presented by
Kappa Kappa Psi
Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity (, colloquially referred to as KKPsi), is a fraternity for college and university band members in the United States. It was founded on November 27, 1919, on Thanksgiving Day, at Oklahoma Agricult ...
, National Honorary Band Fraternity. It is awarded to people who have contributed to the advancement of the wind band "as a cultural, musical and educational medium."
The Distinguished Service to Music Medal has been awarded 137 times to 134 recipients.
The decoration itself is a golden star enameled in the fraternity colors of blue and white. The star, which symbolizes the fraternity ritual and motto, "Strive for the Highest", is surrounded by a golden laurel wreath, symbolizing achievement. Upon the star is the fraternity crest and the words "Distinguished Service" with the Greek letters "ΚΚΨ." The medal is surmounted by a lyre representing the field of music. The decoration may be worn suspended by a blue and white ribbon, for formal occasions or musical performances. The medal was designed by Jack K. Lee, Grand President from 1963 to 1965, and was first awarded to ten men and women.
Recipients
First recipients
The first recipients of the Distinguished Service to Music Medal were awarded it in late 1964 and early 1965. The reasons for which these ten men and women were awarded the medal served as the basis for the categories for later awardees.
*
Morton Gould
Morton Gould (December 10, 1913February 21, 1996) was an American composer, conductor, arranger, and pianist.
Biography
Morton Gould was born in Richmond Hill, New York, Richmond Hill, New York (state), New York, United States. He was recognized ...
(Composition)
* Frank Simon and
William Revelli (Concert Band)
* Eugene J. Weigel (Marching Band)
*
Sigurd Raschèr (Artist Performer)
* Earl Kent of
C.G. Conn (Industrial Research and Progress)
*
Meredith Willson
Robert Reiniger Meredith Willson (May 18, 1902 – June 15, 1984) was an American flutist, composer, conductor, musical arranger, bandleader, playwright, and writer. He is perhaps best known for writing the book, music, and lyrics for the 1 ...
for ''
The Music Man
''The Music Man'' is a musical with book, music, and lyrics by Meredith Willson, based on a story by Willson and Franklin Lacey. The plot concerns con man Harold Hill, who poses as a boys' band organizer and leader and sells band instruments ...
'' (Contributing Layman)
*
Herman B Wells (Alumni Achievement)
*
A. Frank Martin
Andrew Franklin Martin (December 7, 1894 – June 9, 1982), born in Akins, Oklahoma, was a saxophonist, a bandmaster and an educational administrator and one of ten founding members of Kappa Kappa Psi, National Honorary Band Fraternity.
He was ...
and Grace F. Martin (Fraternity Service)
All awardees
Following is a list of all recipients of the award, from 1963 to the present.
; 1963–65
:
Morton Gould
Morton Gould (December 10, 1913February 21, 1996) was an American composer, conductor, arranger, and pianist.
Biography
Morton Gould was born in Richmond Hill, New York, Richmond Hill, New York (state), New York, United States. He was recognized ...
, ''Composition''
: Frank Simon, ''Concert Band''
:
William Revelli, ''Concert Band''
: Eugene J. Weigel, ''Marching Band''
:
Sigurd Raschèr, ''Artist Performer''
: Earl Kent, ''Industrial Research and Progress''
:
Meredith Willson
Robert Reiniger Meredith Willson (May 18, 1902 – June 15, 1984) was an American flutist, composer, conductor, musical arranger, bandleader, playwright, and writer. He is perhaps best known for writing the book, music, and lyrics for the 1 ...
, ''Contributing Layman''
: Herman B. Wells, ''Alumni Achievement''
:
A. Frank Martin
Andrew Franklin Martin (December 7, 1894 – June 9, 1982), born in Akins, Oklahoma, was a saxophonist, a bandmaster and an educational administrator and one of ten founding members of Kappa Kappa Psi, National Honorary Band Fraternity.
He was ...
, ''Fraternity Service''
:
Grace F. Martin, ''Fraternity Service''
; 1965–67
:
Karl King
Karl L. King (February 21, 1891 – February 19, 1971) was a United States march music bandmaster and composer. He is best known as the composer of " Barnum and Bailey's Favorite".
The most expensive painting in Iowa, the "Karl L. King Portra ...
, ''Composition''
: Harold Bachman, ''Concert Band''
: Glenn C. Bainum, ''Marching Band''
: H. E. Nutt, ''Instrumental Music Education''
:
Paul V. Yoder
Paul Van Buskirk Yoder (October 8, 1908 – April 4, 1990) was an American musician, composer, arranger, and band director.
Life
Yoder was born on October 8, 1908, in Tacoma, Washington.Smith, Norman E., and Stoutamire, Albert, Paul Yoder, Band ...
, ''Instrumental Music Education''
: Leonard Smith, ''Artist Performer''
:
Guggenheim family
The Guggenheim family ( ) is an American-Jewish family known for making their fortune in the mining industry, in the early 20th century, especially in the United States and South America. After World War I, many family members withdrew from t ...
of New York, ''Contributing Layman''
: F. Lee Bowling, ''Alumni Achievement''
: J. Lee Burke, ''Fraternity Service''
:
William A. Scroggs, ''Fraternity Service''
; 1967–69
: Clarence Sawhill, ''Concert Band''
:
Manley Whitcomb, ''Instrumental Music Education''
:
Leonard Falcone, ''Artist Performer''
: Nels Vogel, ''Industrial Research and Progress''
: Adolph Ostwald, ''Contributing Layman''
; 1969–71
:
Lucien Cailliet, ''Composition''
:
Richard Franko Goldman, ''Concert Band''
: Jack K. Lee, ''Marching Band''
: Robert Arthur, ''Instrumental Music Education''
:
Doc Severinsen
Carl Hilding "Doc" Severinsen (born July 7, 1927) is an American retired jazz trumpeter who led the NBC Orchestra on ''The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson''.
Early life
Severinsen was born in Arlington, Oregon, to Minnie Mae (1897–1998) a ...
, ''Artist Performer''
:
Traugott Rohner, ''Industrial Research and Progress''
: Donald Moore, ''Fraternity Service''
; 1971–73
:
Robert E. Jager
Robert Edward Jager (born August 25, 1939) is an American composer, music theorist and a conductor.
Life
Jager was born in Binghamton, New York on August 25, 1939. From 1962 to 1965 he was arranger/composer for the US-Navy Armed Forces School o ...
, ''Composition''
: Mark Hindsley, ''Concert Band''
:
William P. Foster
William Patrick Foster (August 25, 1919 – August 28, 2010), also known as The Law and The Maestro, was the director of the noted Florida A&M University Marching "100". He served as the band's director from 1946 to his retirement in 1998. His ...
, ''Marching Band''
: William Moffitt, ''Marching Band''
: Bertram Francis, ''Instrumental Music Education''
:
Eugene Rousseau, ''Artist Performer''
: Nilo Harvey, ''Industrial Research and Progress''
: Forrest McAlister, ''Contributing Layman''
: D. O. Wiley, ''Fraternity Service''
; 1975–77
:
Robert Russell Bennett
Robert Russell Bennett (June 15, 1894 – August 18, 1981) was an American composer and arranger, best known for his orchestration of many well-known Broadway and Hollywood musicals by other composers such as Irving Berlin, George Gershwi ...
, ''Composition''
: Hiram Henry, ''Instrumental Music Education''
: Robert Kamm, ''Contributing Layman''
; 1977–79
: Raymond Dvorak, ''Concert Band''
:
Frederick Fennell
Frederick Fennell (July 2, 1914 – December 7, 2004) was an internationally recognized conductor and one of the primary figures in promoting the Eastman Wind Ensemble as a performing group. He was also influential as a band pedagogue, and grea ...
, ''Concert Band''
:
Colonel Arnald Gabriel, ''Concert Band''
:
Harvey Phillips, ''Artist Performer''
; 1979–81
:
Truman Crawford, ''Marching Band''
: John Long, ''Instrumental Music Education''
; 1981–83
:
Al G. Wright
Alfred George James Wright (June 23, 1916 – September 5, 2020) was an American bandleader who served as the Director of Bands Emeritus at Purdue University and Chairman of the Board of the John Philip Sousa Foundation.
Early years
Wright was ...
, ''Concert Band and Marching Band''
; 1983–85
: Charles Carter, ''Composition''
: Richard Bowles, ''Instrumental Music Education''
: Louis Sudler, ''Contributing Layman''
; 1985–87
: Clare Grundman, ''Composition''
:
Harry Begian, ''Concert Band''
:
Colonel John R. Bourgeois, ''Concert Band''
: John Paynter, ''Concert Band''
; 1987–89
:
W. Francis McBeth, ''Composition''
:
Claude T. Smith
Claude Thomas Smith (March 14, 1932 – December 13, 1987) was an American band conductor, composer, and music educator. His compositions include ''Flight'', adopted as the "Official March" of the National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian I ...
, ''Composition''
:
Fisher Tull, ''Composition''
:
Ray Cramer, ''Instrumental Music Education''
; 1989–91
:
Alfred Reed, ''Composition''
: Hugh McMillen, ''Concert Band, Alumni Achievement, and Fraternity Service''
: James K. Copenhaver, ''Instrumental Music Education''
: Stanley F. Michalski Jr., ''Instrumental Music Education''
: James G. Saied, ''Contributing Layman''
: Max Mitchell, ''Fraternity Service''
: Susan Mitchell, ''Fraternity Service''
; 1991–93
:
James Barnes, ''Composition''
:
H. Owen Reed, ''Composition''
: Kenneth G. Bloomquist, ''Concert Band''
: Richard Strange, ''Concert Band''
: Walter M. Chesnut, ''Instrumental Music Education''
: Thomas Henry Delaine, ''Instrumental Music Education''
: Emery L. Fears, ''Instrumental Music Education''
: Henry Levy, ''Instrumental Music Education''
: Stanley G. Finck, ''Fraternity Service''
; 1993–95
:
H. Robert Reynolds, ''Concert Band''
: James Sudduth, ''Concert Band''
: Conrad Hutchinson Jr., ''Marching Band''
; 1995–97
: Frank B. Wickes, ''Concert Band''
: Don Wilcox, ''Concert Band''
: Richard Worthington, ''Concert Band''
: Kenneth M. Corbett, ''Fraternity Service''
; 1997–99
: James Croft, ''Concert Band''
: James Jacobsen, ''Instrumental Music Education''
: Elden Janzen, ''Instrumental Music Education''
: Gary Langford, ''Instrumental Music Education''
: Clifford Madsen, ''Instrumental Music Education''
; 1999–2001
:
Frank Ticheli, ''Composition''
: Robert Foster, ''Concert Band''
: Gary Garner, ''Concert Band''
: John Whitwell, ''Concert Band''
: Keith Bearden, ''Marching Band''
: Robert "Coach" Fleming, ''Marching Band''
: Gary E. Smith, ''Marching Band''
:
Frederick Hemke, ''Instrumental Music Education''
: Tim Lautzenheiser, ''Instrumental Music Education''
: Jim Cochrane, ''Industrial Research and Progress''
; 2001–03
: Ken Singleton, ''Instrumental Music Education''
: Melvin Miles Jr., ''Instrumental Music Education''
: Alfred Sergel III, ''Instrumental Music Education''
: Christopher Haughee, ''Fraternity Service''
; 2003–05
: Melborn Nixon, ''Instrumental Music Education''
; 2005–07
:
Karel Husa, ''Composition''
:
Donald Grantham, ''Composition''
: Craig Kirchoff, ''Concert Band''
: James F. Keene, ''Concert Band''
: Johnnie Vinson, ''Concert Band''
: Issac Greggs, ''Marching Band''
:
Jack R. Anderson, ''Marching Band''
: Paul Droste, ''Instrumental Music Education''
: Bentley Shellahammer, ''Instrumental Music Education''
: Don McGinnis, ''Conducting''
: William Gora, ''Conducting''
: Steve West, ''Industry''
; 2007–09
:
George N. Parks, ''Marching Band''
: Jon R. Woods, ''Marching Band''
: Scott E. Stowell, ''Fraternity Service''
:
Joseph Hermann
Joseph W. Hermann is a leading American wind band conductor and educator and is currently Director of Bands and Professor of Music at Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville, Tennessee. He is also the current President of the American Ba ...
, ''Conducting''
; 2009–11
: Adam Gorb, ''Composition''
:
Mark Camphouse
Mark Camphouse (born 1954 in Oak Park, Illinois) is an Americans, American composer and conductor who has written primarily for concert band, symphonic band, but whose output also includes works for orchestra, choir and chamber brass.
A product o ...
, ''Composition''
: Joseph P. Missal, ''Concert Band''
: William V. Johnson, ''Concert Band''
: David Patrick Dunnigan, ''Marching Band''
: Julian White, ''Marching Band''
: David Gregory, ''Instrumental Music Education''
: Earl Dunn, ''Instrumental Music Education''
: Lt. Colonel Alan L. Bonner, ''Conducting''
: Michael Haithcock, ''Conducting''
: Jerry F. Junkin, ''Conducting''
: Mark Morette, ''Industry''
; 2011–13
: Paula Crider, ''Conducting''
: William K. Wakefield
Multiple recipients
Hugh E. McMillen, former Director of Bands at the
University of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder, CU, or Colorado) is a public research university in Boulder, Colorado. Founded in 1876, five months before Colorado became a state, it is the flagship university of the University of Colorado s ...
and Past National President of Kappa Kappa Psi, has been awarded the medal for three causes: for concert band, alumni achievement, and fraternity service.
Al G. Wright
Alfred George James Wright (June 23, 1916 – September 5, 2020) was an American bandleader who served as the Director of Bands Emeritus at Purdue University and Chairman of the Board of the John Philip Sousa Foundation.
Early years
Wright was ...
, Director of Bands Emeritus at
Purdue University
Purdue University is a public land-grant research university in West Lafayette, Indiana, and the flagship campus of the Purdue University system. The university was founded in 1869 after Lafayette businessman John Purdue donated land and ...
, is the only other person to receive the award in more than one category: concert band and marching band.
References
{{Kappa Kappa Psi articles
Kappa Kappa Psi
American music awards
Awards established in 1963