By Joseph A. Herter
Wiktor Labunski photo: Sudvarg, Kansas City, MO (courtesy of Ruch Muzyczny magazine)
Both Stojowski and Labunski were consumed with teaching and gained reputations as highly respected and beloved teachers—?abu?ski in Memphis, Nashville and Kansas City and Stojowski in New York during the academic year and on the West Coast in the summer. The saddest thing the two men share in common is that they have been forgotten as composers in both Poland and in their adopted country.
Interest in the music of Stojowski is experiencing a renaissance. Wiktor Labunski’s music, however, still remains to be found only in encyclopedic sources instead of concert programs.
Wiktor Labunski, who served the Conservatory for a nearly a third of its 100-year history as piano professor, director and artist in residence, died 30 years ago. Now is the time to give younger generations the opportunity to share and reevaluate his music as well as to appreciate the legacy of this great Polish-American Kansas City musician.
Joseph A. Herter
Warsaw, Poland
Dave Buus, Tucson AZ said:
Bob, My wife is deeply pleased with the performance of our Kawai as a direct result of your skills. I just stood near the piano and luxuriated in 'Porgy...(Read more . . . )
Dr. Fred Fox said:
Thank you, Robert. Steinway sounds great! Dr. Fred Fox Green Valley, AZ Listen to Dr. Fred Fox(Read more . . . )
A. Thomas, Vail AZ said:
It never sounded this good!(Read more . . . )
Mary Kaye Masters said:
"My Wurlitzer Spinet NEVER sounded this good!" That's what I told Bob, when I called him a few days after he tuned my piano for the first time. ...(Read more . . . )
Chuck Littau said:
I am not a customer, but a good friend and fellow technician. We are going to miss Bob in Kansas City and Tucson is acquiring one of the best piano...(Read more . . . )
David Gardner said:
When cleaning out a storage area that had been overlooked for over 10 years, I found an old black Yamaha studio piano that my predecessor had apparently put there. ...(Read more . . . )
Ron Steen said:
Bob Conrad has taken care of our 12 pianos here at the Cathedral since 1977 and in all those years, we have never had a problem with his work. He...(Read more . . . )
Ruth R. Blake said:
Bob has tuned and taken care of my two matching Steinway grands for over 30 years. When we moved and I no longer needed one of the grands, he...(Read more . . . )
Ann Marie Scahill said:
I bought my Steinway in 1980, and had some very bad experiences with tuners until I met Bob Conrad. He was recommended to me by the largest Steinway dealer in...(Read more . . . )
Schmitt Music, Overland Park, KS said:
To Whom It May Concern: Robert Conrad has provided exemplary service for Schmitt Music and Jenkins Music for many years. He is very professional. Our company sells the Steinway Family of...(Read more . . . )