Steven Staryk
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Steven (Sam) Staryk (born 1932, Toronto) is a Canadian violin virtuoso. He is of Ukrainian descent.
He went to Harbord Collegiate Institute when he was young.
As a renown teacher, orchestral and chamber musician, and international soloist, he is considered to be the leading Canadian-born violinist of his generation. The Encyclopedia of Music in Canada describes him as “one of the most assured” technical players of the 20th century.
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 at age of 24, the youngest ever, earning the title "king of concertmasters" from Strad magazine. He would go on to serve as concertmaster of the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam Chamber Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony, and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.
Staryk is a well known instructor, and many of his pupils hold positions in major orchestras and chamber groups around the world. He has taught at the Amsterdam Conservatory, Northwestern University and the American Conservatory in Chicago, and at the Oberlin College Conservatory in Ohio. He also served as head of the string department at the Vancouver Academy of Music. He also taught at University of Victoria, University of Ottawa, University of Western Ontario, Royal Conservatory of Music (Toronto), the University of Toronto, and the University of Washington in Seattle.
He has also played in the Oberlin String Quartet, Quartet Canada, and in the Staryk-Perry Duo (with pianist John Perry).
Staryk served as an adjudicator for the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow in 1982.
He made over 40 recordings, covering a wide range of the violin literature. His repertoire includes about 40 violin concertos.
In 1987, Staryk appeared in the two-hour docu-drama film Vivaldi.
He wrote about his life as a professional musician in his book Fiddling With Life: The Unusual Journey of Steven Staryk.
