Bryce Luty, well-known music educator and band director, passed away at age 77 on Monday, Dec. 29, 2014, in Hutchinson. He was born to Harvey and Helen Luty of Inman on May 9, 1937.

Bryce attended the Inman Public Schools, where he studied with music instructor Les Sperling. After high school, he attended Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kan., and earned his BME in 1958. His first teaching position was at Durham High School, where he stayed for three years. He taught one year at Marion High School and then moved on to McPherson High School, where he developed an outstanding band and jazz program over the next 13 years, presenting guest artists such as Doc Severinsen and Clark Terry. Many of his students continued as professional musicians and music educators throughout the United States. He next was given the opportunity to move into higher education and developed a Jazz Studies Program at Hutchinson Community College. This program was the first full jazz program in institutions of higher learning in the state of Kansas. The community support was outstanding and money was raised for jazz scholarships for two full bands.
The bands presented four guest artist concerts each year with top professional musicians such as Clark Terry, Louie Bellson, Ed Shaughnessy, and many more. He was presented many state and national awards, such as Outstanding Music Educator of the Year in 2000, awarded by the Kansas Federation of Music Clubs; the Homer Osborn Award from the Wichita Jazz Festival; the Alumni Award of Merit from Bethany College; plus several other awards from MENC and IAJE. His bands played at the state music conventions, KMEA seven times, Southwest and North Central conference of MENC in Kansas City and the National MENC Conference in Chicago. They also played the International Jazz Educators Conference in Washington D.C., and were invited to play at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Montreux, Switzerland, in 1998, and Euro Disney in Paris, France. He was chosen for two years to direct the National Community College Jazz Ensemble of IAJE in 2008 in Boston, Massachusetts, and in 2009 in San Antonio, Texas.

He is survived by: his wife, Jan of the home; his daughter, Cynthia, and her two children, Lisel and Christian, from Chicago; and his son, Roger and his wife Wei, and their children, Benjamin and Brianna, from Houston. He is also survived by his brother, Harlan and his wife Phyllis from Inman and their two sons, Mike and Scott and their families.

Memorial service will be 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015, at Trinity United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Michael McGuire officiating. Friends may sign the book from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday at Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson. Family will receive friends from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at Trinity United Methodist Church. A reception will follow from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. at the Hutchinson Town Club. Musicians are invited to play a jam session in his honor.

On Jan. 29, 2015, a memorial concert honoring Bryce's legacy at HCC will be held in the auditorium of the Stringer Fine Arts Center, Hutchinson Community College, and will be a musical tribute with many musicians participating in the celebration of his life.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the HCC Instrumental Jazz Scholarship Fund or to Hospice of Reno County, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson KS 67501