Elizabeth Fritz wins "Karl King Service Award"

Decorah School Distric band director Elizabeth Fritz, has received the top
award given by the Iowa Bandmasters Association.  The "Karl King Service Award - Active" is given to one individual each year to acknowledge significant achievements with and service towards students, IBA, and the profession overall.  The Karl King Award is given annually to both an active and a retired member.  The retired recipient this year was Jim Gosnell from Cedar Falls, formerly the band director in Cresco.
 
Liz is the first female director to receive this award in the history of
IBA.  She, along with her husband Jim, are the first married couple to both receive this award.  Jim was presented with this award in 2005.
 
The award is named after the famous Iowa band director and "circus march king" Karl King.  Bandmaster King led the famed Fort Dodge (Iowa) Military Band for 38 years and played euphonium in the Barnum and Bailey's Circus band.  King, the composer, published more than 300 works: galops, waltzes, overtures, serenades, rags, and 188 marches and screamers. It has been said that King did for the circus march what Sousa did for the patriotic march. He was a Past President of IBA and played a significant part in the growth of school bands in Iowa during the mid-20th century.  
 
picture: Iowa Bandmasters Karl King Award recipients: (L) Jim Gosnell - Retired, (R) Elizabeth Fritz - Active