Our History

1889
Willy Kurt Hutzelmann (Born)
Willy Kurt Hutzelmann (Born)

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.

1905
Franz Gotwἂrd Kurt Stolze (Born)
Franz Gotwἂrd Kurt Stolze (Born)

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.

1919
New Beginnings

Willy Kurt Hutzelmann, started the family factory in 1919 in Eisenberg, East Germany. Export to England, Finland, Norway and South Africa during the Great Depression secures over 20 employees ‘ wages and bread in a difficult time

1924
Willy Kurt Hutzelmann (30)
Willy Kurt Hutzelmann (30)

Earliest known photo of Willy Kurt Hutzelmann Great Grandfather of Werner Wilfried Stolze

1926
Kurt Stolze
Kurt Stolze

First Known photograph of Kurt Stolze

1929
10 years
10 years

This Photo was taken at the 10-year reunion of the Hutzelmann factory.

1939
1940
1941
Wilfried Kurt Stolze (Born)
Wilfried Kurt Stolze (Born)

First known photo but not on the date of birth

1944
The Stolze Family
The Stolze Family

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.

1945
1946

From Left: Margot (sister) & Kurt Wilfried Stolze.

1947
1949
1953
To South Africa
To South Africa

Immigrated to South Africa with his Father Kurt Stolze, Mother Johanna,  Brother Hartmut & Sister Margot.

1956
1957
Flight Ticket
Flight Ticket

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.”

1958
Master Letter of the son-in-law Willy Hemp

Continuation as a family business ensured the independence of the company in GDR times.

1959
40 Years
40 Years

The Hutzelmann factory 40th-year existence.

Frau Hedwig Hutzelmann
Frau Hedwig Hutzelmann

Great Grand Mother, know as Frau Hedwig Hutzelmann, born 19 May 1894 & Great Grandfather Willy Kurt Hutzelmann.

1960

Completed his Degree in Piano Building.

1964
The first Cembalo serial number
The first Cembalo serial number

Willy Kurt Hutzelmann and new owner of the Hutzelmann factory Thomas Hanf.

1967

Kurt Stolze regulating the dempers of an upright piano

1971
Franz Gotwἂrd Kurt Stolze

Sadly Passed away and left his legacy to the family. Takeover of the company after the death of the company founder by Willy Hanf. Specialization in general repairs of wings and pianos

1973

Kurt Stolze tuning an upright piano

1978
vacation in Rudesheim Germany
vacation in Rudesheim Germany

The last known photograph of Kurt Stolze during their vacation in Rudesheim Germany, just days before he passed away on the 27th August.

1979
Werner Wilfried Stolze (Born) 4th Generation
Werner Wilfried Stolze (Born) 4th Generation

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.

1981

Werner with his father Kurt Wilfried Stolze.

1983

Went to Malawi on special request from President Hastings Kamuzu Banda to tune & refurbish a piano (Pianist for this event was: Natalia Strelchenko).

1989

Received a letter of thanks from the President of South Africa FW De Klerk.

1995
1997

Tuned the piano at the Presidential home of President Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela for the visit of Michael Jackson.

1999

Werner starts apprenticeship

2000

Father and son Tuning a piano together.

2002
2007

Attending the Wedding of his son Werner Wilfried Stolze & his bride Naomi Geyer in Matjiesfontein.

Werner Stolze marries Naomi Geyer

Werner Stolze married Naomi Geyer in Matjiesfontein.  It was a morning wedding but the below listed photograph was taken the evening at the Mafia theme Party. Till today people still talk about this amazing wedding many moons ago.

2011
President Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma
President Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma

Assembled Yamaha G1 Grand Piano for President Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma at the Presidential residence in Pretoria.

2013

Werner Wilfried Stolze passes away.

2014
Tori Amos

Transported Grand Piano for Tori Amos from the Linder Theatre to Monte Casino.

RSG Kunstefees

Tuned the Piano for a Piano Extravaganza at SABS Publisher Salon Music Live Recording RSG Kunstefees Nov 2014 & received a nickname from Get It Magazine as “The Piano Whisperer“.

2015
2016

Wakkerstroom Music Festival | UNISA International Piano Competition | Kuwait Tuning, Germany Tuning, Switzerland Tuning and Austria Tuning