Born April 27, 1932 in Toronto of Ukrainian immigrant parents, Steven Staryk began his violin studies at the age of seven. The publication of his career memoirs and observations in Fiddling With Life has been lauded by reviewers and distinguished musicians. His prodigious career was a unique and extraordinary integration of related activities: soloist, pedagogue, chamber musician and concertmaster; he surpassed the summit in each and every role. The title “King of Concertmasters” was bestowed upon him by The Strad magazine after having led three major orchestras by the age of 35: the Royal Philharmonic, the Royal Concertgebouw (the first British subject to attain a major position in continental Europe) and the Chicago Symphony. He also served as Concertmaster of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the CBC Symphony and the Boyd Neel Orchestra.

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Staryk taught at several of the foremost music schools including the Amsterdam Conservatory, Oberlin Conservatory (the youngest full professor in the institution’s history), Northwestern University (Chicago) and Toronto’s Royal Conservatory, culminating in his receiving the Distinguished Teaching Award (the first ever awarded to a professor in the University of Washington’s School of Music).