Stefan Krayk papers
Stefan Krayk papers
Dates: 1934-1997
Collection contains viola parts and repair equipment, promotional material, correspondence, newspaper clippings, and research in music therapy, manuscript scores, programs, and other materials concerning his time as a music professor and professional violinist, 1934-1997.
- Extent: 1 carton (1 linear ft.)
- Creator: Krayk, Stefan, 1914
- Call Number: MSS 7860
- Repository: L. Tom Perry Special Collections; Music Special Collections; 1130 Harold B. Lee Library; Brigham Young University; Provo, Utah 84606; http://sc.lib.byu.edu/
- Access Restrictions: Open to public research.
- Languages and Scripts
- Materials are in English.
- Arrangement
- Collection retained its original order.
- Conditions of Use
- It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances. Permission to publish material from Stefan Krayk papers must be obtained from the Supervisor of Reference Services and/or the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Board of Curators.
- Preferred Citation
- Initial citation: MSS 7860; Stefan Krayk papers; Primrose International Viola Archive; L. Tom Perry Special Collections, Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University. Following citations: MSS 7860, LTPSC.
- Custodial History
- Donated by Stefan Krayk in 1997.
- Acquisition Information
- Donated; Stefan Krayk; 1997.
- Subject Terms
- Krayk, Stefan, 1914-; Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences; Music; Music--Performance; Violists - United States
- Genre / Form
- Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.); Letters; Music--Manuscripts; Programs
- Processing Information
- Processed; Elizabeth West; June 2011.
- Appraisal Information
- Prominent performer (Section IV Primrose International Viola Archive Collection Development Policy January 2011).
- Finding Aid ID Number
- UPB_MSS7860
- Finding Aid Title
- Krayk (Stefan) papers
- Finding Aid Author
- Finding aid prepared by Elizabeth West
- Finding Aid Creator
- This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2012-03-12T14:56-0600
- Finding Aid Language
- English
- Biographical Info:
Biographical history
Stefan Krayk (1914-1999) was a Virtuoso violinist, World War II ace fighter pilot, a Polish national tennis champion, winner of an international violin competition, and a professor of music.
Stefan Krayk was born in Warsaw. He started playing the violin at an early age. When his father purchased a Stradivarius he was futher encouraged in his music and went on to study in Germany, England, and France with Jacques Thibaud, Georges Enesco, and Carl Flesch, among others. He went on to win the prestigious Queen Elizabeth of Belgium International competition.
With the Nazi invasion of Poland in 1939, Stefan flew with the Polish Air Force until they were overwhelmed by the enemy and he could make his escape into Romania. From there he eventually made his way to England where he was able to join the U.S. Army. At the end of the war, he emigrated to the U.S. where he joined the Philadelphia Orchestra as violinist. After a period on the faculty of Oberlin College in Ohio, he came to University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) in 1950.
Together with faculty and town colleagues, he was one of the founders of the Santa Barbara Symphony in 1953, and served as its concertmaster until 1981. At UCSB, in addition to his teaching, he was a member of the famed Paganini Quarter during their residence. He retired from UCSB in 1977 but continued to teach privately. For two summers, he coached chamber music at the Music Academy of the West. He was regularly to be found on the tennis courts; a brief stint as an actor in local theater productions led to some further work in television. As a teacher, he was mentor to an impressive number of talented string players who have gone on to distinguished professional careers as soloists, orchestra members, and teachers. He died in 1999.
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David Day
Curator - Music Special Collections
david_day@byu.edu