Max Stwertka '19 composed a seven movement suite to honor his grandfather's uncle, Julius Stwertka. Stwertka was brought to the Vienna by Gustav Mahler to be concertmaster of the Vienna Philharmonic orchestra from 1902 until his retirement in 1936. From 1934 to 1938 he was a member of the Rose Quartet. In 1938, Julius was deported to Theresienstadt, where he died on December 17, 1942. Two years later his beloved wife Rosa was put on the train to Auschwitz. Max Stwertka recently performed his composition.
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