The Bohumil Makovsky Memorial Award is a prestigious honor established by Kappa Kappa Psi to recognize outstanding achievement by college band directors. The award is named after the Fraternity's "Guiding Spirit," Dr. Bohumil Makovsky, whose influence on the development of college band programs was profound and lasting.
The award is named after the man who served as the Fraternity's first advisor and was instrumental in its founding. Dr. Makovsky:
The award wasn't established until 1979—29 years after Dr. Makovsky's death in 1950. This shows how long his influence continued to inspire the Fraternity to honor his memory formally.
Unlike many fraternity awards that recognize service or membership, the Makovsky Award specifically honors excellence in band direction—reflecting Dr. Makovsky's primary contribution: being an outstanding director.
This is one of the few awards given by a student fraternity that specifically honors professionals in the field (college band directors). It bridges the student organization and the professional music education community.
The award is not given every year or to everyone. It is given selectively to recognize truly exceptional achievements, making it a highly prestigious honor.
The Makovsky Award can be given to college band directors regardless of whether they are Kappa Kappa Psi members. The award recognizes excellence in the field, not just fraternity membership.
Recipients of the Makovsky Award typically demonstrate:
Recipients receive formal recognition at the National Convention, with their names announced before the entire fraternal delegation and often featured in fraternal publications.
Despite being established in 1979, the award remains highly relevant and sought-after in the college band world. New recipients are selected regularly to maintain the honor's significance.
Many recipients of the Makovsky Award have connections to the National Intercollegiate Band, either as guest conductors, composers, or strong supporters of the program.
The award ensures that Dr. Makovsky's name and contributions are remembered by every generation of Kappa Kappa Psi members. New initiates learn about him when learning about the award.
Dr. Makovsky's Death - Dr. Bohumil Makovsky passes away after 30 years of shaping the Oklahoma A&M Band program and serving as the Fraternity's guiding force.
Legacy Building Period - For nearly 30 years, the Fraternity honors Dr. Makovsky's memory through informal recognition and remembrance during conventions.
Award Establishment - Kappa Kappa Psi formally establishes the Bohumil Makovsky Memorial Award to ensure that outstanding band directors are recognized in his name and according to his philosophy of excellence.
Inaugural Recipients - The first recipients of the award are honored at the Biennial National Convention, establishing the tradition.
Award Expansion - As word of the award spreads throughout the band world, nominations increase and the award becomes more prestigious.
Formalization - The award receives more formal recognition in fraternal publications and becomes a regular feature of the National Convention program.
Continued Honor - The award continues to be given biennially, with each recipient joining a distinguished list of honor-worthy band directors recognized by the Fraternity.
Living Legacy - For over 40 years, the Bohumil Makovsky Memorial Award has been recognizing excellence in band direction. Recipients often speak of the deep honor of being recognized in such a prestigious way.
The Makovsky Award represents Kappa Kappa Psi's commitment to honoring excellence in band direction. Just as Dr. Makovsky devoted his life to developing the best college band programs possible, the award recognizes others who carry on that mission.
The award embodies several key Kappa Kappa Psi values:
Being recognized with the Makovsky Award:
Dr. Makovsky was known for:
Recipients of his memorial award typically share these same values.
The Makovsky Award has become recognized beyond just Kappa Kappa Psi circles. It is respected throughout the college band profession as a marker of significant achievement.
Like most Kappa Kappa Psi awards, the Makovsky Award is presented at the Biennial National Convention, making it a highlight of that major fraternal gathering.
The Bohumil Makovsky Memorial Award ensures that the Fraternity's founding spirit—a commitment to excellence, musicianship, and the development of great college band programs—is honored in perpetuity.
Every time a band director receives this award, they become part of a continuing lineage that traces back to Dr. Bohumil Makovsky himself. The award says: "Your contributions to band music education matter. You exemplify the values that Dr. Makovsky dedicated his life to achieving."
In this way, the award is not just a recognition of past achievement, but an inspiration for future directors to strive for the same excellence that made Dr. Bohumil Makovsky the "Guiding Spirit" of Kappa Kappa Psi.