Kansas City

Upon graduation from Julliard in 1955 with an Artist’s Diploma, his teacher, the renowned violinist Ivan Galamian, recommended him to Hans Schwieger, conductor of the Kansas City Philharmonic, for the position of Concertmaster. At age 23, Tibor became the youngest Concertmaster of a major symphony orchestra in the United States.

In 1961, the same year he won a National Federation of Music Club’s Young Artist Award, Tibor became a U.S. citizen, which he regards as one of the proudest moments of his life. Even before he became a U.S. citizen, Tibor was drafted into the Army where he served six months active duty at Fort Leonard Wood followed by six years in the reserves and an honorable discharge.