Josephine Kryl (1897 – November 20, 1960) was an American violinist.
Early life Josephine Kryl was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, the daughter of Bohumir Kryl and Mary Jerabek Kryl. Her father was a cornetist from Bohemia. Her mother was born in Vienna, Austria. Her younger sister Marie Kryl also became a professional musician, as a pianist."Bohumir Kryl" Lyceum News (February 1913): 8.
Josephine Kryl studied with Leon Semetini,"Wizard Kryl to be Heard" Lyceumite and Talent (March 1913): 43. Leopold Auer,"Marie Kryl Narrowly Escapes Drowning in Lake George" Musical America (August 10, 1918): 12. and Eugène Ysaÿe."Describes Ysaye's Patriotism" Lyceum News (September 1914): 12.
Career The Kryls performed together through Josephine's adolescence, sometimes as a family, and sometimes just the sisters."Furnish Music for Municipal Benefit" Lyceum News (January 1915): 15. At the start of World War I Josephine Kryl was a teenager, studying in Belgium with Ysäye. Before she could return to the United States, she heard bombardments nearby, saw spies arrested, and survived an attack on a train."Back from Belgium" Lyceum News (September 1914): 3. After her marriage, she continued to appear with her father and sister in concert."Band Will Stay Over in City" Sarasota Herald-Tribune (March 3, 1928): 10.
As a soloist, Josephine Kryl appeared with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 1915,"Soloist with Thomas Orchestra" Lyceum News (December 1915): 11. in recitals with Emmy Destinn in 1917,"Mr. Bohumir Kryl" Musical Messenger (March 1917): 1. and with the Rochester Symphony in the 1930s.Jewel Curry, "Tarpon Girl Keeps Alive Art of Famous Violinist" Tampa Bay Times (May 17, 1931): 2. via Newspapers.com "Josephine Kryl has many natural gifts of temperament and talent," noted one report in 1920. "To these she adds a firmly grounded knowledge of her instrument acquired in exhaustive study which was started at an early age.""Lyceum Course on the Way" Carry On (November 1920): 46.
Personal life Bohumir Kryl was wealthy."Bohumir Kryl Has Amassed a Fortune" Lyceum Magazine (February 1920): 35. In 1921, he openly offered each daughter $100,000 if they would postpone marriage until they were thirty years old,"Love and Twins — $100,000 and Fame – Which?" Philadelphia Inquirer (December 17, 1922): 83. via Newspapers.com hoping the publicized offer would give them incentive to make their music careers a priority."Cupid Robs World of Many Great Women Musicians" Lyceum News (June–July 1915): 6. Josephine Kryl married composer and conductor Paul Thomas White in 1922, forfeiting that reward.Paige Lush, Music in the Chautauqua Movement: From 1874 to the 1930s (McFarland 2013): 55. "$100,000 Husband!" South Bend News-Times (November 12, 1922): 22. via Hoosier State Chronicles "Paul and I are going to do a great deal in music this year," she explained to reporters. "It is silly to say one has to give up music for love.""Loses Father's $100,000 by Marrying Before 30" New York Times (October 18, 1922): 40. They had four daughters. Josephine Kryl White died in 1960, aged 63 years, in Rochester, New York."Mrs. Paul White" New York Times (November 25, 1960): 27.
Her grandson Paul Yancich is principal timpani with the Cleveland Orchestra.Paul Yancich, The Cleveland Orchestra. Another grandson, Mark Yancich, is principal timpani with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.Mark Yancich , Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.
References
External links A publicity photo of Josephine Kryl with her father and sister, from "Traveling Culture: Circuit Chautauqua in the Twentieth Century", Redpath Chautauqua Collection, University of Iowa Libraries Special Collections Department.