Remembering Janos Starker Archives

János Starker Remembrance Week: Presenting My Mentor with His Honorary Doctorate in 2006 — by Paul Katz

It is a privilege for me to be able to use my website, CelloBello.com, to honor my former teacher, colleague, and friend of many decades, the legendary János Starker, July 5, 1924 – April 28, 2013. In May 2006, the New England Conservatory of Music presented János Starker with an Honorary Doctor of Music, and I was asked to introduce him. To speak publicly of him was an emotional and gratifying moment for me, and as we celebrate him in the year 2015, it feels appropriate for me to share my words of nine years. János Starker Receiving His Honorary Doctorate at the New England Conservatory New England Conservatory of Music Commencement on Sunday, May 21, 2006 "It is my honor and great personal pleasure to present to you János [...]

By Paul Katz|2017-10-30T05:03:03-04:00April 26th, 2015|Categories: Artistic Vision, Interpersonal Relationships, Janos Starker, Performance, Self Discovery, Teaching|Tags: Remembering Janos Starker, Paul Katz, life of Janos Starker, cello, Janos Starker Memorial, cellobello, Cello Blog, New England Conservatory, Cello Legend, Cello Peadagogue, Janos Starker Honorary Doctorate, Cello teacher|

CelloBello János Starker Remembrance Week: Life as a Student of János Starker

János Starker “S” Bridge János Starker’s incomparable achievements as a performer and recording artist are well-documented. However, when I first appeared at his door as a new graduate student, my awareness of him mostly stemmed from hearing others speak about him, and from only one of his recordings: that of Zoltan Kodaly’s Sonata, Op. 8. I had developed a mental image of Mr. Starker as an austere, intimidating presence. Paul Katz, with whom I had been studying at Eastman, enjoyed a longstanding friendship with Mr. Starker, and in those years Paul would often send a graduating senior to Bloomington for further education. […]

By Brant Taylor|2017-10-30T05:00:37-04:00April 22nd, 2015|Categories: Artistic Vision, Interpersonal Relationships, In the Practice Room, Janos Starker, Self Discovery, Teaching|Tags: Remembering Janos Starker, life of Janos Starker, Janos Starker, Janos Starker Memorial, cello, Cello Blog, cellobello, Cello Legend, Cello Pedagogue, Lesson with Janos Starker, Cello teacher|

CelloBello János Starker Remembrance Week April 22-28

CelloBello Remembers János Starker Please join us for a full week of events and video releases,to remember and honor this great figure of the cello world.Preview of upcoming events: New Videos of Never-Before Seen Interviews Newly released interview videos of János Starker in conversation with Paul Katz in 2010. April 22: Growing as a PerformerApril 23: Releasing TensionApril 24: Rhythmic FreedomApril 25: VibratoApril 26: His Performance AnxietyApril 27: His Difficult, Early Years Please visit our János Starker CelloLegacy section on CelloBello.com each day to view the newest video. Daily Blogs A new blog each day at CelloBlog by former Starker students and family includingRobert Battey, Paul Katz, Maria Kliegel, Alexandra Preucil (Starker’s granddaughter),Brant Taylor and Jeffrey Zeigler. CelloChatsYour chance to ask questions about Starker’s cello teachings and hear personal anecdotes and stories of the master! 3 special CelloChats with former students of Starker Reminiscing: What I Learned From János Starkerall [...]

By Blogmaster|2017-10-30T04:59:57-04:00April 17th, 2015|Categories: Artistic Vision, CelloStream, Interpersonal Relationships, Janos Starker, Self Discovery, Teaching|Tags: Cello Legend, Cello Pedagogue, Cello teacher, Remembering Janos Starker, life of Janos Starker, Janos Starker, Janos Starker Memorial, cello, Cello Blog, cellobello|

Reminder: Memorial for Janos Starker at Indiana University this Sunday, September 22

All invited to the Janos Starker Memorial at Indiana University, Sunday, Sept. 22. A message from Janos Starker’s daughter, Gwen Preucil; I am writing to let you all know that there will be a memorial for my father at Indiana University on Sunday, September 22nd at 4 pm at the Musical Arts Center in Bloomington, Indiana. […]

By Blogmaster|2013-09-10T11:57:08-04:00September 10th, 2013|Categories: Performance|Tags: artist, cellist, Hungarian Cellist, elegance, Gwen, performer, Indiana, expression, Janos, Janos Starker Memorial, legacy, Starker, legend, musician, virtuoso, Memorial, cello, soloist, Musical Arts Center, cellobello, Bloomington, Preucil, teacher, Indiana University, survivor, confidence, Remembering Janos Starker|

Remembering Hungarian Cello Master János Starker — by Benjamin Ivry

Having survived a Nazi internment camp during World War II, Hungarian Jewish cellist János Starker (1924-2013) led a life focused on civic contributions and behaving with utter freedom. Starker, who died in Indiana on April 28 at age 88, witnessed some of the worst horrors of modern history, and was determined to devote himself to constructing the future. He and his parents, of Polish-Ukrainian Jewish origin, survived their imprisonment, but his two older brothers Tibor and Ede, both accomplished violinists, were murdered in Nazi labor camps. Starker’s notion of free behavior included a lifelong habit of consuming quantities of whiskey and cigarettes, neither of which impeded his ferociously concentrated playing. It also embraced free speech, even when the expression of his musical taste might wound students or established colleagues. In [...]

By Blogmaster|2023-03-21T10:59:02-04:00August 1st, 2013|Categories: Artistic Vision, Janos Starker, Performance|Tags: musical taste, Starker, Nazi internment camp, virtuoso, seeking perfection, expression, Accomplishment, World War II, Teaching, soloist, cello, confidence, Remembering Janos Starker, performances, Benjamin, Holocaust survivor, cellist, Hungarian Cellist, elegance, Ivry, Janos|

Remembering János Starker: July 5, 1924-April 28, 2013

“What is the role of music in society?… Music is one of the essentials in human existence, almost identical with eating, sleeping, making love, the basic functions that keep a human being alive. Music simply, is one of the blessings and joys of civilized human existence.” – János Starker View Janos Starker performances and interviews at https://cellobello.org/legacy/starker-the-teacher ------------------ János Starker Tributes From Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi: The passing of my dear mentor and inspiration, János Starker, is indeed profoundly sad news, even though we have been expecting this at any moment. It is a great honour for me to write about him, and it causes so many wonderful memories to flood my mind. The only thing I can say at this moment is that he was not only a truly incredible cellist, musician, artist, [...]