Title: Jacob "Jack" Radunsky Papers, 1895-1995

ID: RG 30/259

Extent: 8.5 Linear Feet

Predominant Dates: 1940-1990

Born in Chicago, Illinois in 1910, Jacob “Jack” Radunsky earned a Mus. B. degree from the Chicago Musical College (Roosevelt University) at the age of 18 (1928). In 1934, he received an A.B. degree from the University of Wisconsin (Madison, Wisconsin) where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa; and, in 1950 he received an A.M. degree in philosophy from Columbia University. Mr. Radunsky also studied privately with several renowned piano teachers as well as at the Juilliard School of Music.

From 1931 to 1939, Jack Radunsky maintained a private piano studio in Madison, Wisconsin. During 1937-39, he was the assistant conductor and a coach for the Chautauqua (New York) Opera Company. When the company toured without an orchestra, Mr. Radunsky provided piano accompaniment. There followed five years (1939-43) of managing Junior Programs, Inc., and then another five (1943-47) as a U.S.O. Director.

In 1947, at the age of 37 having never held a teaching post, Mr. Radunsky was appointed Assistant Professor of Pianoforte at the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music. He was an immediate and continuing success, becoming Associate Professor (1953-59) and Professor (1959-76) and being in demand as a private teacher until the end of his life. His reputation, which rapidly became national, derived from his absolute dedication to his art and to his students. “He inspired them to work beyond their talent limit; he possessed an intuitive sense of pedagogical psychology” (Shannon). He never gave a concert because he felt an early finger injury prevented his performing at the level he demanded, and he rarely lectured. However, those who knew him well recognized that he possessed a keen sense of practical musical analysis and could play extraordinarily well.

During a sabbatical in 1969-70, Mr. Radunsky prepared a systematic review of the piano chamber music of Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, and Brahms from a performer’s point of view. In 1973-74, he received a grant-in-aid from Oberlin College to work on “The Brahms solo piano works opp. 116-110: a Critico-Historical Edition.”

When he reached mandatory retirement age in 1976, against his own inclinations and the protests of students, Mr. Radunsky became Professor Emeritus of Pianoforte and immediately assumed a part-time teaching position at the Cleveland Institute of Music; he also taught privately in Oberlin. Later he taught at the University of Wisconsin, The University of Illinois, Northwestern University, and Indiana University and frequently was a sabbatical replacement teacher at the Oberlin Conservatory.

In addition to maintaining a heavy teaching schedule, Jack Radunsky was active as a judge in piano competitions: the Young Artist Auditions sponsored by the Oklahoma Symphony (1977), The Three Rivers Competition in Pittsburgh (1977), The Greater Spokane Music and Allied Arts Festival (1978), and the Austin (Texas) competition of the Three Rivers Piano Competition (1979).

Jack Radunsky’s wife, Betty Mae Millard Radunsky (d.1988), was an administrative assistant in the Admissions Office at Oberlin College for thirteen years (1976-89). The couple had three children: David, Michael, and Cynthia Radunsky Rutterley. Jacob “Jack” Radunsky died at his home in Oberlin on August 15, 1995. He was 85. Soon after his death, his family, joined by friends and former colleagues, established a scholarship fund in his name. The income provides funds for an annual scholarship granted to a piano student at the Oberlin Conservatory on the basis of both need and merit.

Sources Consulted

“Family Establishes Radunsky Award.” Oberlin Conservatory News (Spring 1996): 4.

“Jacob Jack Radunsky, Emeritus Professor of Pianoforte.” The Oberlin College Observer (August 31, 1995): 2.

Oberlin College Biographical Form. n.d.

Shannon, Robert. Memorial Minute. Jacob “Jack” Radunsky. Oberlin Alumni Magazine. (Spring 1996): 41.

Author: Elizabeth Brinkman

Forms of Material (links to similar genres)

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Administrative Information

Scope and Contents:

The Jacob “Jack” Radunsky Papers, 1895, 1908-1995, mainly document the pianoforte performance and teaching career of Radunsky over nearly three decades. Consisting of six record series, the largest of which is his correspondence, the collection is on the whole uneven. There are gaps in the record relating to Professor Radunsky’s teaching and service to Oberlin College. The biographical file (Series I) helps to fill some of the holes in his life and times.

The correspondence includes incoming professional and personal. The latter, from students and/or alumni, is large, and the letters document in a broad way Radunsky’s ongoing mentorship with students and his professional relationship with them. A good set of outgoing letters exists from Radunsky to immediate family and friends.

A small body of instructional materials and student files as well as coursework are found in Series III and IV.

Non-textual records, consisting of photographic negatives and sound recordings, comprise Series VI and VII. There are 52 reel-to-reel tapes and 17 photographs.

SERIES DESCRIPTIONS

Series I. Biographical Files

Consists of a variety of materials documenting the life of Jacob “Jack” Radunsky and his wife Betty. The series contains diplomas, licenses, memberships, retirement information, concert programs collected by Radunsky, correspondence relating to his faculty position at Oberlin College and a teaching position at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Series II. Correspondence

The correspondence series is divided into three subseries: Subseries 1. Professional Correspondence (incoming); Subseries 2. Letters received by Radunsky (incoming) – Personal; and Subseries 3. Letters from Radunsky (outgoing) – Personal. The letters are arranged alphabetically, or by group (i.e., family, students/alumni/friends).

Series III. Instructional Materials and Student Files

The instructional files consist of teaching schedules and class lists, student files, notes and musical scores, printed matter, and evaluations of courses (completed by students). Files relating to students are restricted.

Series IV. Coursework

The series contains student papers and notes of Radunsky that were produced during the period, 1942-50, when he studied at Columbia University and received private lessons from several renowned piano teachers and at the Julliard School of Music.

Series V. Financial Records (sample)

The financial records were sampled by the Archives staff to provide additional documentation concerning the lives of Jacob “Jack” and Betty Radunsky. Consists of summaries of bank accounts, charitable donations, insurance policies, investment accounts

Series VI. Photographs (unprocessed)

Black and white negatives, 2 ¼ x 2 ¼ in., and one black and white print, 3 ½ x 3 ½ in.

Series VII. Sound Recordings

Consists of student recitals, c. 1960s-1970s (41 reel-to-reel tapes), auditions and performances, 1950s-1970s (11 reel to reel tapes), and phonographs (17), 1963, n.d.

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