Dr. Makovsky (“Boh”) began his tenure as the
Director of Bands and head of the Music Department in 1915
after a musical career around the state of Oklahoma. During
his tenure, the band grew by leaps and bounds and gained
recognition as one of the finest ensembles in the Southwest.
In 1943, Boh retired, and turned both titles over to Dr.
Mitchell.
Dr. Mitchell was a student of Boh’s in the
1930s. After receiving a master’s degree at Michigan, he
returned to OAMC as Boh’s assistant. After taking over the
program upon Boh’s retirement, he later completed a doctorate
at Columbia University. Dr. Mitchell relinquished the duties
of Director of Bands in 1957, but remained as the head of the
Music Department until 1977.
The tenures of Dr. Makovsky and Dr. Mitchell
greatly shaped the music programs at OAMC/OSU and included the
inception of the ROTC bands, the Girls Band, multiple concert
(College) bands, an All-State Clinic and the formation of
several college fraternal organizations. These men built the
foundation for everything the OSU band program has become.
The OSU Alumni Band Day event is open to all members of the
OSU Alumni Band and will include a Friday night Mixer,
September 12th at the Seretean Center for the
Performing Arts and the band day event on Saturday, September
13th.
