KU School of Music to expand Gerren Hall of Achievement with induction ceremony

Please join us on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, at 4:30 p.m. as we honor the legacy of Dr. Reginald T. Buckner with an induction ceremony at the Nicholas L. Gerren, Sr. Hall of Achievement, located outside the music library.

The University of Kansas School of Music is proud to announce the addition of Dr. Reginald T. Buckner (1938-1989) to the esteemed Gerren Hall of Achievement. A musician, scholar, and music educator, Buckner's contributions have left an indelible mark on the field of music.

Dr. Buckner was a prolific musician, ardent scholar, and dedicated music educator. He was born in Kansas City, Kansas, where he attended school and was trained in classical and choral music at Strangers Rest Baptist Church. He graduated from the University of Kansas with bachelor’s (1961) and master’s degrees (1966) in Music Education. From 1966-1969 Dr. Buckner taught instrumental music in Kansas City. He later earned the PhD in Music Education at the University of Minnesota where he taught courses in jazz studies, music education, and African American history from 1974 until his death. He was a well-known performer on the piano and organ in Kansas City and Minneapolis. He also tirelessly trained musicians. In 1981 he produced a television series, "Jazz: An American Classic," and lectured regularly about jazz across the United States. The following year, he pursued post-doctoral studies at an international jazz workshop in Salzburg, Austria. Throughout Dr. Buckner’s academic career, his research focused on music in Kansas City’s Black community, jazz history and musician-composer N. Clark Smith.

This induction ceremony not only celebrates the remarkable achievements of Dr. Buckner but also acknowledges the ongoing efforts to recognize individuals who have overcome systemic barriers in their pursuit of excellence in music.

Following the induction ceremony, a concert by the KU Symphony Orchestra will take place at 7:30 p.m. at the Lied Center. Tickets for that event are available on the Lied Center’s website. To RSVP for the induction ceremony, please contact Margaret Marco, Professor of Oboe, at mmarco@ku.edu.

We extend a warm invitation to members of the community to join us for this special occasion as we pay tribute to Dr. Reginald T. Buckner and his enduring legacy. Previous inductees include Nicholas Gerren, Etta Moten Barnett, William P. Foster, Nathan Davis, Carmell Jones, and Ron McCurdy.