Bio 6

After 12 years with the Philharmonic, Tibor resigned in 1967 to devote his time to teaching and his “first love” – chamber music. He became Professor of Music and Artist-in-Residence at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music and Dance, where he taught for 32 years. In 1982, Tibor was asked by Conductor Russell Patterson to resume the role of Concertmaster with the establishment of the Kansas City Symphony. He continued as Concertmaster until 1999 and greatly enjoyed playing under the musical direction of Patterson and, later, Bill McGlaughlin.

In 1985, Tibor was honored as Musician of the Year by the Kansas City Musical Club for his “contribution to music as a distinguished teacher and for his dedication to the promotion of musical culture in Kansas City.” He has always considered himself fortunate: “The variety I have with teaching, chamber music and the symphony – that is a complete life.”

Tibor participated in many summer music festivals (Marlboro was his and his wife Carla’s favorite), performed with major orchestras in the U.S., Israel, and South Korea and chamber music groups including the Mid-America String Quartet, the Klausner Quartet, and the Volker String Quartet. In 1964, he became the first classical violinist to play on Iranian television. Throughout his career, Tibor  enjoyed his collaborations with some of Kansas City’s finest musicians, both in his quartets and through his “Klausner and Friends” concerts.  His duo concerts with Richard Cass, which spanned over 25 years until Richard’s sudden death in 2009, were labors of love with the pianist whom he regarded like a brother.