Photo by Alan Olson Tracey Filben was recognized by the state chapter of Phi Beta Mu as Bandmaster of the Year.

John Marshall High School’s longtime band director has drawn statewide acclaim in recent weeks.

Tracey Filben was named Bandmaster of the Year 2017 by the West Virginia chapter of Phi Beta Mu. She said industry personnel have been familiar with the fraternity since its inception. She also said it was an honor to be among their ranks, especially in what is traditionally seen as a male-dominated field.

“Growing up, everyone knew the directors who were in this fraternity, we called them the Blue Blazers,” she recalled of the nickname that came from their attire. “When I was added, that’s a really big deal. There aren’t that many women. It’s primarily a boy’s club. And they’re very good.”

While Filben said she did not feel she went out of her way to draw the acclaim, the past year was a “doozy,” in her words. The school’s steel band ensemble served as the X-ensemble at the West Virginia Music Educators Association in March and was chosen to perform at the Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conference coming in December.

“We were the first group to be selected in (WVMEA) existence three years ago,” she said. “You can only go every other year … so we played, weren’t eligible and were picked again. So, we’re also the only group to get picked back-to-back.”

The International Band and Orchestra Conference, Filben said, is a huge deal for the students. Musicians from across the world gather in Chicago for the event.

“This is huge — literally the biggest band conference in the country,” she said. “The kids who go to Chicago, this will be, for many of them, a first-time experience, maybe one-in-a-lifetime. And while we’re there, they get free admission into the entire conference. There’ll be big-name composers and musicians. Everyone goes to Midwest. If there’s one conference you go to, it’s that one.”

Filben said she was enthused that acclaimed musician Tim Lautzenheiser had enjoyed JMHS’s steel band personally.

“He’s a legend in music — he’s the author of The Art of Successful Teaching,” she said. “I have that book in my cabinet. I sat in on a clinic under him. He listened to our band and thought they were fun.”

Filben also was honored as an Outstanding Music Educator through the National Federation of State High School Associations last month. The association awarded her with a certificate.

Filben said she has received continuous support from the school and a string of “superior” ratings for the past 15 years for their concert band.

“It’s just been the evolution of the ensemble,” she said. “It was brand new 10 years ago; we’ve just built it up over time. The school’s been supportive; it’s a part of the curriculum. You can’t beat seeing kids every single day. It wouldn’t have the same effect if we were just rehearsing after school for 45 minutes.

“I’m doing the same things I always do,” said Filben. “I just think it’s finally getting noticed. … I try to slow down, but then I think, ‘We should submit a recording to Chicago!'”