Thomas Karolyi was a legendary orchestra teacher and director and an exceptional musician in his own right. One of J. Taylor Finley Junior High School’s founding faculty members in 1965, he instructed, encouraged and guided thousands of musicians during his storied career.
Mr. Karolyi passed away in September 2018 after battling lung cancer. He was 82 years old and still performing and entertaining crowds as a musician. His family, friends, former faculty colleagues and students contributed thousands of dollars to create a scholarship in the gifted musician’s memory.
Thomas Karolyi Memorial Orchestra Scholarship recipient Grace Wildermuth.
The first annual $1,000 award was presented by Mr. Karolyi’s widow, Felicia to Arielle Harvey, who recently completed her sophomore year at CUNY Queens College’s Aaron Copland School of Music. Last year’s scholarship was garnered by Julien Rentsch, who is studying at Northwestern University.
This year’s Thomas Karolyi Memorial Orchestra Scholarship Award recipient is Huntington High School’s Class of 2021 co-valedictorian Grace Wildermuth, who is headed to Vanderbilt University.
Mr. Karolyi’s 31 year Huntington UFSD teaching career was an unbridled success story. He established the chamber orchestra, the all-district orchestra concert and the intergenerational concert as well as the Tri-M Music Honor Society, which continues to thrive to this day.
Ms. Wildermuth said some of her “happiest memories” have been in the high school’s orchestra, chamber orchestra, pit orchestra and jazz band. The teenager has won many music awards, including first chair bassist All-State and All-Eastern bassist. She is the current Tri-M Music Honor Society president.
Thomas Karolyi
Born in January 1936 in Budapest, Hungary, Mr. Karolyi first evaded the Nazi killing machine when Germany occupied Hungary, hiding with his parents in a darkened basement room for weeks at time.
He later escaped suffocating religious persecution in Hungary when the Soviet Union invaded the country in 1956 and crushed a popular rebellion. Mr. Karolyi immigrated to the US and became an American citizen, later earning undergraduate and graduate music education degrees at City University of New York-Queens College.
Mr. Karolyi began his career at Finley in September 1965 when the school first opened its doors. His deep voice and heavy Hungarian accent added to the aura that always seemed to envelope him. He had a perpetual spring in his step. He walked fast through the hallways.
As a strings teacher, orchestra director and violinist, few could match Tom Karolyi. He performed throughout his life and right up until the time of his death. His smile, quick wit and hearty laugh will always be remembered by his colleagues.
Over the years, Mr. Karolyi taught at Finley, Robert K. Toaz Junior High School and Huntington High School. He split time between Finley and the high school from 1988 until his retirement in July 1996, serving as orchestra director at both schools.
Mr. Karolyi’s file in the Huntington UFSD personnel office is packed with accolades from fellow teachers, department supervisors and principals regarding his students’ performances at concerts and special events through the years.
The veteran music teacher’s “great rapport” with his students and his ability to “bring out the best in them musically” is a constant theme that runs throughout the missives placed in Mr. Karolyi’s file.
Huntington music teachers past and present, most notably those who have worked with strings students and orchestras across the district were exceedingly saddened to hear of Mr. Karolyi’s passing. He lived in the Huntington area and regularly attended district concerts.
Mr. Karolyi helped establish the Tri-M Music Honor Society in the district and served as its faculty advisor. He spent countless hours helping students prepare for NYSSMA auditions. As vice president of the Long Island String Festival, he played a key role in the organization and in the running of its festival.
Always a consummate professional, Mr. Karolyi had a certain boyishness to his nature. It’s that perpetually young at heart teacher that Huntington UFSD will never forget.
