Steven Staryk

Steven Sam Staryk, OC (born in Toronto, 27 April 1932) is a Canadian violin virtuoso.

Born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada of Ukrainian descent, began his musical education at 7 year old at the Harbord Collegiate Institute. He pursued further violin studies 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.

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