Dr. James Starr

Dr. James Starr is in his twenty-fifth year as Professor of Violin and Viola at Emporia State University. Raised in Salt Lake City, Utah, he received his early training from Sally Peck and Oscar Chausow, who were then the principal violist and concertmaster of the Utah Symphony Orchestra under Maurice Abravanel. Later Dr. Starr joined that orchestra as one of its youngest members and performed with the Symphony seven years as it toured the United States, Europe, and South America. He completed his B.A. degree in Music Education and M.M. degree in violin performance at the University of Utah and taught strings in the public schools of Salt Lake City for three years. In 1978 Dr. Starr completed a doctorate (D.M.A.) in Violin Performance at the University of Illinois under the tutelage of the distinguished pedagogue Paul Rolland.

As a teacher Dr. Starr has served as head of the String Department at ESU for many years. Among his private students, a number have become public school teachers in strings; some have joined professional orchestras; and others have become private studio teachers or classroom teachers. In 1995 he was awarded the Hall of Fame Award - Kansas Teacher of the Year by the Kansas Chapter of American String Teachers Association. At ESU he teaches violin and viola, coaches chamber ensembles, is an advisor to new and veteran students, and teaches courses in other areas as needed: music and fine arts appreciation, orchestration, basic music, and music history. He serves as concertmaster of the ESU Symphony Orchestra (Civic Orchestra) and assists the university orchestra director in coaching the upper strings.

As a performer Dr. Starr performs annual recitals alone and with others and assists with other performances on campus and off. For many years, he was a member of the faculty piano trio, the Great Plains Trio. He also enjoys performing with his students occasionally.

As a scholar, Dr. Starr has recently published a violin scale system with Boosey & Hawkes. He has presented two workshops in connection with this publication at the University of Illinois and at Kansas State University. He is co-authoring a book on twentieth century piano trio literature that will soon be ready for publication. He has other projects underway, including a book on shifting and positions, and he has done many arrangements for string chamber ensembles.

For the past two years, Dr. Starr served as President of the Kansas Chapter of American String Teachers Association, and he currently remains on the state board as past president advisor. He is active in state string activities and is well known by his peers.

Last Updated April 25, 2007