Our History
Founder of the family factory “Hutzelmann” in Eisenberg, East Germany. The factory was one of few piano factories in East Germany to survive the second world war.
Willy Kurt Hutzelmann secured the wages of twenty employees as well as putting bread on the table during the difficult times of the great depression.
Born on 14th March 1905 FG Kurt Stolze married Willy Kurt Hutzelmann’s daughter, Margret Johanna and had 3 children. Kurt also worked in the Hutzelmann factory as well as the Grotrian Steinweg factory.
Kurt immigrated to South Africa in 1953 with his wife and 3 children on the Sterling Castle Line Ship and imported the first Cembalo in 1965 (Left Germany 1964 but arrived in SA 1965). He established a piano shop in White River, South Africa in 1959.
FG Kurt Stolze was the grandfather of Werner Stolze.
Earliest known photo of Willy Kurt Hutzelmann Great Grandfather of Werner Wilfried Stolze
Family Portrait of the Stolze Family: from left to right Margret Johanna (mother), Kurt Wilfried (son), Margot (daughter) & Kurt Stolze (father) – 3 siblings not born yet.
From Left: Margot (sister) & Kurt Wilfried Stolze.
Immigrated to South Africa with his Father Kurt Stolze, Mother Johanna, Brother Hartmut & Sister Margot.
Flight taken on Trek Airways to go and study the trade in Piano Building under his Grand Father Willy Kurt Hutzelmann.
Wilfried Kurt Stolze left South Africa in 1957 to study in Eisenberg, East Germany. He received his degree in 1960.
Wilfried escaped the Berlin Wall construction in 1961 and worked at Bothners factory in Johannesburg between 1961 and 1962 (the factory was known to build the Otto Bach & Knight).
He opened a shop in 1962. Received a letter of thanks from the office of President FW De Klerk in 1989.
Wilfried Kurt Stolze is Werner Wilfried Stolze’ father.
“The Knowledge that I have of Pianos and the history of all different factories and where they were built will, unfortunately, be lost to the new generation, there are a handful of Piano Builders (not tuners) left in SA, Luckily my younger son Werner Stolze is fully trained.”
Great Grand Mother, know as Frau Hedwig Hutzelmann, born 19 May 1894 & Great Grandfather Willy Kurt Hutzelmann.
Completed his Degree in Piano Building.
Willy Kurt Hutzelmann and new owner of the Hutzelmann factory Thomas Hanf.
Kurt Stolze regulating the dempers of an upright piano
Kurt Stolze tuning an upright piano
The last known photograph of Kurt Stolze during their vacation in Rudesheim Germany, just days before he passed away on the 27th August.
Werner is the son of Wilfried Kurt Stolze. At the age of 8 Werner appeared in the first publication for pianos printed in the Beeld Newspaper (22 July 1988) as well as the Verwoerdburg News in 1995.
In 2002 Werner did his first professional tuning of a grand piano under the watchful eye of his father. In 2014 he appeared in a publication of the Pretoria Get It Magazine, dubbed the Piano Whisperer.
Received a letter of thanks from Willem Vogel the Artistic Director of Brooklyn Theatre in 2014 and later that year he turned the pianos for the Piano Extravaganza (8 Pianists & 4 Grand Pianos) for RSG Kunstefees with Salon Music also performed at Brooklyn Theatre.
Werner with his father Kurt Wilfried Stolze.
Went to Malawi on special request from President Hastings Kamuzu Banda to tune & refurbish a piano (Pianist for this event was: Natalia Strelchenko).
Received a letter of thanks from the President of South Africa FW De Klerk.
Tuned the piano at the Presidential home of President Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela for the visit of Michael Jackson.
Werner starts apprenticeship
Father and son Tuning a piano together.
Attending the Wedding of his son Werner Wilfried Stolze & his bride Naomi Geyer in Matjiesfontein.
Assembled Yamaha G1 Grand Piano for President Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma at the Presidential residence in Pretoria.
