Already established as a concert pianist, composer, conductor, and teacher throughout Europe, 33-year-old Wiktor Labunski made his American debut at Carnegie Hall in 1928. In the years following he toured as a solo pianist, and he performed with the symphony orchestras of Minneapolis, Cleveland, St. Louis, Toronto, Kansas City, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Memphis, Knoxville, Milwaukee, and Chicago.

Before coming to Kansas City to head the Conservatory's piano department, Labunski had taught at the Krakow (Poland) Conservatory and in the music programs of the Nashville Conservatory of Music and the Memphis College of Music. He had conducted the 1934-35 season of the Warsaw Symphony, the Polskie Radio Orchestra, the Kansas City Philharmonic, and the St. Louis Symphony.

After he became the director of the Conservatory of Music of Kansas City, he continued to concertize throughout the nation and abroad; his recitals, lectures, and performances with the Kansas City Philharmonic were especially popular. Music critics hailed his performances: "Technically a master of his instrument, he possesses vitality and definite vigor." (New York Herald Tribune); "Splendid musicianship, nobility of tone, clarity of details and masterful architectural balance." (Warsaw Gazeta Polska); "Labunski's is a pianism at once strong and subtle, thoughtful and clean-cut." (St. Louis Globe-Democrat).

Although many international artists had previously visited and taught at the Conservatory, Labunski brought a decidedly European elegance to Kansas City's musical environment through his magnetic personality, stage presence, and performance styles and through visits and local performances by his international circle of friends, relatives, and colleagues. Among his associates were Artur Rubenstein, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Rosina Lhevinne.

A prolific composer for both piano and for orchestra, Labunski published a Symphony in G Minor, a Piano Concerto, a Duo-Piano Concerto, and numerous piano pieces and songs. His prodigious piano repertoire included 15 concertos.

Late in Labunski's tenure as director, the Conservatory's board of directors entered a series of discussions with officials of the University of Kansas City with a view to a potential merger of the two organizations. Labunski feared that the Conservatory would lose its autonomy and distinctive characteristics in such a move. When it became apparent that the merger would take place, Labunski gracefully resigned as director and remained as a loyal member of the piano faculty until his retirement.