Jan Karon
Violinist, maitre luthier, poet
Born Feb. 6, 1919, Dluzec, Poland; came to U.S., 1968; son of Jan and Katarzyna (Kubat); married Hanna (Stempkowska); child: Magdalena.
Education: Master of Arts (M.A.), Music Academy, Warsaw (Poland), 1952.
Career: assistant principal, 2nd violinist, Katowice Philharmonic (Poland), 1945, Cracow Philharmonic (Poland), 1946-47; principal, 2nd violinist, Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra (concerts in 23 countries), 1947-67; owner, Modern Violin Atelier, Warsaw, 1959-67; violinist, Houston Symphony Orchestra (TX), 1968-86; associate, Gorisch Violin Shop, Houston, 1968-87; owner. Modern Violin Atelier, Houston, 1987 -.
Author: Poznaj swoje skrzypce (Know Your Violin), 1967; Wiersze na jednej strunie (poems), 1994; numerous articles in professional journals, lectures on Violin in Poland and United States; one-person violin exhibition, Library of St. Thomas University, Houston, 1978.
Member of: past member: Violin Society of America, Catgut Association, Copernicus Society, Polish Musicians Association (Poland), Union of Polish Luthiers (Poland), Polish Union Artistic Violin Makers, Polish National Alliance (P.N.A.), Polish Institute of Arts and Sciences of America (P.I.A.S.A.).
Honors: 2nd award, Warsaw Competition of Violin Makers, 1955; scholarship, E. Votelot, Paris (France), 1958; highest appreciations by H. Szeryng and Y. Menuhin; Silver Cross of Merit; Medal of Merit, Polish Artists Luthiers Union, 1994; listed in: Universal Dictionary, Polish Music Encyclopedia.
Affiliation: Catholic.
Languages: Polish, English, German, Russian.
Hobbies: poetry, satire.
Home: 9206 Ilona Lane, Houston, TX 77025.
From: "Who's Who in Polish America" 1st Edition 1996-1997, Boleslaw Wierzbianski editor; Bicentennial Publishing Corporation,
New York, NY, 1996