NET Radio Music Director William Stibor passed away unexpectedly at his home in Lincoln. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am Monday, June 24, 2013 at First Plymouth Congregational Church 2000 D Street in Lincoln. Memorials to the family for future designation. Arrangements are being handled by Wadlow Rozanek Funeral Services in Lincoln.
Stibor, of Bassett, Nebraska, was a well-known and popular NET Radio host for the weekday classical music program “Morning Concert” as well as producer and host of “Friday Live,” the weekly arts and entertainment series that features music, theatre and performance events across Nebraska (formerly “Live From The Mill”). He was an announcer for NET Radio, Nebraska’s statewide public radio network, since 1989.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in theatre and English from Hastings College in 1985, where he graduated with honors and chaired several arts and humanities committees. He received his master’s degree in English with a theatre minor from the University of Nebraska –Lincoln in 1991.
Stibor was the current President of the Board of Lincoln’s Symphony Orchestra and was honored by the Lincoln Arts Council in 2011 when he received the Mayor’s ArtScene Backstage Award. He was NET Radio’s first humanities host, producing the radio series “Connections.”
“Bill was so well known and admired across Nebraska as a great talent and tireless ambassador for the arts and humanities,” NET Radio Manager Nancy Finken said.
Stibor had produced and hosted many music radio programs such as the UNL “Faculty on Stage”and the “Young Musician Competition” series. He also served as editor for several arts and promotional publications and is a published poet, appearing in the internationally recognized literary magazine “Prairie Schooner” and the “Plainsongs” poetry magazine of Hastings College. He has also served on the board of the Abendmusik Performance Series and the Nebraska District Committee of the Met Opera Auditions.
Stibor was a classically trained tenor, with additional master classes from Met Opera coach Marlena Malas, opera star Phyllis Curtain and The King's Singers. He has sung with his educational institutions' choral groups, Abendmusik, First Plymouth Congregational and St. Paul United Methodist choirs in Lincoln, the Omaha Chamber Singers, and has appeared as a soloist with Lincoln’s Symphony Orchestra, the Nebraska Jazz Orchestra and Tada Productions.
He composed several works for choir and chamber ensembles, and his theatre credits include numerous productions at the Lincoln Community Playhouse.
