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International Magazine for Brass Players

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Kurt Laberer, instrument maker in Munich

By Jean-Pierre Mathez

Kurt Laberer, instrument maker in Munich

In 1956 Adolf Dost started an instrument repair workshop (now the oldest in Munich) which soon acquired an enviable reputation.

Before taking over this excellent workshop under his own name (1985) Kurt Laberer had done an apprenticeship with Gillhaus in Freiburg in Breisgau (1972) before going to work for Ganter in Munich (1975-77). In 1982, after having been a professional trombonist for several years, he worked for Yamaha before setting up his own business. In collaboration with Werner Pietralla, who had been with Ganter for 25 years, he soon conceived the idea of a new range of traditional German trumpets based on new technological and acoustic principles.

Kurt Laberer

Kurt Laberer

Today Kurt Laberer and his colleague travel the world, visiting on the one hand the trumpets of the Berlin and Munich Philharmonic and other prestigious ensembles, on the other hand international competitions, exhibitions and conferences (the I.T.G. in the United States in 1987, for example).

He displays impressive dynamism, and absolute determination to have his instruments accepted; the very least one can say of these is that they are well made and offer an exceptional range of sound.

This friendly little business employs four people (all instrument makers) and produces about ten trumpets a month (rotary-valve trumpets in B♭ and C, high trumpets in B♭, G and E♭/D, and bass trumpets in C).

Adolf Dost

Adolf Dost

Brass Bulletin 61, I / 1988 pages 60–61

All content is protected by copyright © Brass Bulletin 1988–2026

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