Steven Staryk
Encyclopedia
Steven Sam Staryk, OC
(born 1932 Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada
) is a Canadian violin
virtuoso.
Born in Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada
of Ukrainian
descent, he began his musical education as a child at the Harbord Collegiate Institute
. He pursued further studies in the violin with Albert Pratz
at The Royal Conservatory of Music (Toronto) and in New York City.
As a renowned teacher, orchestral and chamber musician, and international soloist, he is considered to be the leading Canadian-born violinist of his generation. He is listed in The Encyclopedia of Music in Canada and 23 international publications including The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians. Awards include the Shevchenko Medal, the Queen's Silver Jubilee Medal, an honorary doctorate of letters from Toronto's York University, and arts awards from the Canada Council.
In 1951, he was one of the Symphony six
who were denied permission to enter the United States.
He was runner-up to Salvatore Accardo
in the International Competition for Musical Performers in Geneva, 1956. No first prize was awarded that year.
Again, he was runner-up at the Carl Flesch International Competition in London where only one prize is awarded.
He became concertmaster of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
at the age of 24, the youngest ever, earning the title "king of concertmasters" from The Strad magazine. He went on to serve as concertmaster of the Concertgebouw
, Amsterdam Chamber Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
, and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra
.
Staryk is a well known master teacher and many of his pupils hold various positions in major orchestras, chamber groups and professional music schools around the world. He has taught at the Amsterdam Conservatory, Northwestern University and the American Conservatory in Chicago. He became the youngest full professor at Oberlin College Conservatory in Ohio. He served as head of the string department at the Vancouver Academy of Music
and taught at the University of Victoria
. Other teaching posts include the University of Ottawa
, the University of Western Ontario
, The Royal Conservatory of Music (Toronto), and the University of Toronto
. His teaching career culminated with the University of Washington in Seattle which conferred on him its Distinguished Teaching Award, the first ever accorded to a Professor in its School of Music. Among his notable students are violinist Lenny Solomon
and composer Marc Sabat
.
He was a member of the Oberlin String Quartet, a founding member of Quartet Canada, led the CBC String Quartet and formed the Staryk-Perry Duo (with pianist John Perry).
Staryk served as the first Canadian adjudicator for the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow in 1982.
His discography of over 190 compositions ranks him as one of the most prolific recording violinists on the world stage and the most recorded classical Canadian musician to date. (James Creighton: Discography of the Violin)
In 1987, Staryk appeared as the adult composer/violinist in the two-hour docu-drama film Vivaldi.
In 2000 he co-authored a book with Thane Lewis about his life as a professional musician in Fiddling With Life: The Unusual Journey of Steven Staryk.
The prestigious Gramophone of London provides a succinct summary: "Staryk is among the great ones."
In 2007 he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
and in 2008 received an Honorary Fellowship from the Glenn Gould School of The Royal Conservatory of Music (Toronto).
As of March 2009, Steven has started distribution of his recently completed 30-CD anthology of his performances from 1952-2003. This incredibly versatile anthology can be purchased and inquired about here: StarykAnthology.ca
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(born 1932 Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
) is a Canadian violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
virtuoso.
Born in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
of Ukrainian
Ukrainian Canadian
A Ukrainian Canadian is a person of Ukrainian descent or origin who was born in or immigrated to Canada. In 2006, there were an estimated 1,209,085 persons residing in Canada of Ukrainian origin, making them Canada's ninth largest ethnic group; and giving Canada the world's third-largest...
descent, he began his musical education as a child at the Harbord Collegiate Institute
Harbord Collegiate Institute
Harbord Collegiate Institute is a public secondary school located in downtown Toronto, Canada. Specifically, the school is located in the Palmerston-Little Italy/The Annex neighbourhood, situated on the north side of Harbord Street, between Euclid Ave. and Manning St...
. He pursued further studies in the violin with Albert Pratz
Albert Pratz
Albert Pratz was a Canadian violinist, conductor, composer, and music educator. He was awarded the Canadian Centennial Medal in 1967. His compositional output was modest and consists of only instrumental works...
at The Royal Conservatory of Music (Toronto) and in New York City.
As a renowned teacher, orchestral and chamber musician, and international soloist, he is considered to be the leading Canadian-born violinist of his generation. He is listed in The Encyclopedia of Music in Canada and 23 international publications including The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians. Awards include the Shevchenko Medal, the Queen's Silver Jubilee Medal, an honorary doctorate of letters from Toronto's York University, and arts awards from the Canada Council.
In 1951, he was one of the Symphony six
Symphony six
The Symphony six were a group of Canadian musicians who were denied permission to enter the United States.-History:The Toronto Symphony Orchestra was invited to perform at the Masonic Auditorium in Detroit, as part of the Major Symphony Series on November 27, 1951...
who were denied permission to enter the United States.
He was runner-up to Salvatore Accardo
Salvatore Accardo
Salvatore Accardo is an Italian violin virtuoso and conductor.He is highly regarded for his interpretations of Paganini, J. S. Bach, Antonio Vivaldi, contemporary works, chamber music, and opera conducting....
in the International Competition for Musical Performers in Geneva, 1956. No first prize was awarded that year.
Again, he was runner-up at the Carl Flesch International Competition in London where only one prize is awarded.
He became concertmaster of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is a British orchestra based in London. It tours widely, and is sometimes referred to as "Britain's national orchestra"...
at the age of 24, the youngest ever, earning the title "king of concertmasters" from The Strad magazine. He went on to serve as concertmaster of the Concertgebouw
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra is a symphony orchestra of the Netherlands, based at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. In 1988, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands conferred the "Royal" title upon the orchestra...
, Amsterdam Chamber Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Chicago, Illinois. It is one of the five American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1891, the Symphony makes its home at Orchestra Hall in Chicago and plays a summer season at the Ravinia Festival...
, and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra
Toronto Symphony Orchestra
The Toronto Symphony Orchestra is a Canadian orchestra based in Toronto, Ontario.-History:The TSO was founded in 1922 as the New Symphony Orchestra, and gave its first concert at Massey Hall in April 1923. The orchestra changed its name to the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in 1927. The TSO...
.
Staryk is a well known master teacher and many of his pupils hold various positions in major orchestras, chamber groups and professional music schools around the world. He has taught at the Amsterdam Conservatory, Northwestern University and the American Conservatory in Chicago. He became the youngest full professor at Oberlin College Conservatory in Ohio. He served as head of the string department at the Vancouver Academy of Music
Vancouver Academy of Music
The Vancouver Academy of Music is a Canadian music conservatory located in Vancouver, British Columbia. The school was founded as the Community Music School of Greater Vancouver in 1969 through efforts made by the Vancouver Community Arts Council. The school was originally located on West 12th...
and taught at the University of Victoria
University of Victoria
The University of Victoria, often referred to as UVic, is the second oldest public research university in British Columbia, Canada. It is a research intensive university located in Saanich and Oak Bay, about northeast of downtown Victoria. The University's annual enrollment is about 20,000 students...
. Other teaching posts include the University of Ottawa
University of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa is a bilingual, research-intensive, non-denominational, international university in Ottawa, Ontario. It is one of the oldest universities in Canada. It was originally established as the College of Bytown in 1848 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...
, the University of Western Ontario
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
, The Royal Conservatory of Music (Toronto), and the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
. His teaching career culminated with the University of Washington in Seattle which conferred on him its Distinguished Teaching Award, the first ever accorded to a Professor in its School of Music. Among his notable students are violinist Lenny Solomon
Lenny Solomon
Lenny Solomon is a Canadian jazz, pop, and classical violinist and composer. An active studio musician, he has performed on hundreds of recordings and soundtracks, including albums by Nigel Kennedy, Anne Murray, and John McDermott. He has also recorded two of his own jazz albums: After You've Gone...
and composer Marc Sabat
Marc Sabat
Marc Sabat is a Canadian composer based in Berlin since 1999.-Works:He has made installations, video works and concert music pieces using acoustic instruments and, in some recent pieces, computer-generated electronics, drawing inspiration from investigations of the sounding and perception of small...
.
He was a member of the Oberlin String Quartet, a founding member of Quartet Canada, led the CBC String Quartet and formed the Staryk-Perry Duo (with pianist John Perry).
Staryk served as the first Canadian adjudicator for the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow in 1982.
His discography of over 190 compositions ranks him as one of the most prolific recording violinists on the world stage and the most recorded classical Canadian musician to date. (James Creighton: Discography of the Violin)
In 1987, Staryk appeared as the adult composer/violinist in the two-hour docu-drama film Vivaldi.
In 2000 he co-authored a book with Thane Lewis about his life as a professional musician in Fiddling With Life: The Unusual Journey of Steven Staryk.
The prestigious Gramophone of London provides a succinct summary: "Staryk is among the great ones."
In 2007 he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
and in 2008 received an Honorary Fellowship from the Glenn Gould School of The Royal Conservatory of Music (Toronto).
As of March 2009, Steven has started distribution of his recently completed 30-CD anthology of his performances from 1952-2003. This incredibly versatile anthology can be purchased and inquired about here: StarykAnthology.ca