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Kelly McKay of KVTA Radio in Ventura, California interviewed
Joyce Geeting about her book, career musch and teaching at
Cal Luthern University in Thousand Oaks, California.
Joyce Geeting about her book, career musch and teaching at
Cal Luthern University in Thousand Oaks, California.
Joyce Geeting and Robert are seen at the far right visiting the famous
Trafalgar Square in London just prior to a performance of St. Martin of Fields.
Trafalgar Square in London just prior to a performance of St. Martin of Fields.
| Janos Starker: King of Cellists Joyce Geeting |
Music CDs from Cellist Joyce Geeting
|
"Janos Starker: King of Cellists" is how he has been described
due to the many aspects of music that he mastered in his life.
He has the edge of authority that comes with international
touring and worldwide acclaim. As a youth he played in coffee
houses, later with the Metropolitan Opera over a thousand opera
performances, with Chicago Symphony over a thousand
symphony concerts, and over a thousand of his own concerto
and recital performances. His performance experience has
covered the gamut of cello playing!
By the age of twelve he already had five students. Over the
years he has taught hundreds of young cellists who in turn have
taught thousands more. He has often said that teaching has
been the most important aspect of his life. Like the
ever-expanding ripples on the lake, his influence has reached
countless cellists and music lovers. As performer, recording
artist and teacher he has set the standards of excellence and
raised the bar so high, we all must reach for the sky.
As a student at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest,
at a young age he was performing the string quartets of Bartok,
Debussy, Beethoven and many other works with fellow
musicians who would remain his lifelong friends and fellow
music partners. At age fifteen, a boy in knee pants, he
performed the Solo Sonata by Kodaly with the composer in the
audience. The performance was so stunning, unbelievable to
listeners, with technical feats never before dreamed of by
composers. Rave reviews appeared in major papers around the
world.
Even Musical America was talking about it, calling this
performance in Budapest a miracle. That was the night that
launched his reputation. However, his career was delayed by
the years of World War II and its devastation in Hungary, which
many of his family and friends did not survive. At the war's end
he was able to cross borders with some fast talking, false
papers, and dance music he played for the Russian soldiers. He
landed in Paris where he made his debut with Kodaly's Solo
Sonata. His recording of this remarkable piece won him the
Grand Prix du Disque and launched the beginning of his
phenomenal recording career, his output not even approached
by any cellist in the history of the instrument.
Four years ago I sent a birthday card to him congratulating him
on his 80th birthday together with a copy of the book to let him
know that it was going to print. He wrote back to me telling me
not to release my book since his was coming out the same
month. So I waited four years for the success of his book.
However, that meant redoing much of my book. My approach
differs from his. It comes from years as a student of
psychology. I wanted to know what makes him tick. What
influences in his life made him the unique and remarkable
individual he is? From where did he draw his dedication to
excellence in performance, recording and teaching?
due to the many aspects of music that he mastered in his life.
He has the edge of authority that comes with international
touring and worldwide acclaim. As a youth he played in coffee
houses, later with the Metropolitan Opera over a thousand opera
performances, with Chicago Symphony over a thousand
symphony concerts, and over a thousand of his own concerto
and recital performances. His performance experience has
covered the gamut of cello playing!
By the age of twelve he already had five students. Over the
years he has taught hundreds of young cellists who in turn have
taught thousands more. He has often said that teaching has
been the most important aspect of his life. Like the
ever-expanding ripples on the lake, his influence has reached
countless cellists and music lovers. As performer, recording
artist and teacher he has set the standards of excellence and
raised the bar so high, we all must reach for the sky.
As a student at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest,
at a young age he was performing the string quartets of Bartok,
Debussy, Beethoven and many other works with fellow
musicians who would remain his lifelong friends and fellow
music partners. At age fifteen, a boy in knee pants, he
performed the Solo Sonata by Kodaly with the composer in the
audience. The performance was so stunning, unbelievable to
listeners, with technical feats never before dreamed of by
composers. Rave reviews appeared in major papers around the
world.
Even Musical America was talking about it, calling this
performance in Budapest a miracle. That was the night that
launched his reputation. However, his career was delayed by
the years of World War II and its devastation in Hungary, which
many of his family and friends did not survive. At the war's end
he was able to cross borders with some fast talking, false
papers, and dance music he played for the Russian soldiers. He
landed in Paris where he made his debut with Kodaly's Solo
Sonata. His recording of this remarkable piece won him the
Grand Prix du Disque and launched the beginning of his
phenomenal recording career, his output not even approached
by any cellist in the history of the instrument.
Four years ago I sent a birthday card to him congratulating him
on his 80th birthday together with a copy of the book to let him
know that it was going to print. He wrote back to me telling me
not to release my book since his was coming out the same
month. So I waited four years for the success of his book.
However, that meant redoing much of my book. My approach
differs from his. It comes from years as a student of
psychology. I wanted to know what makes him tick. What
influences in his life made him the unique and remarkable
individual he is? From where did he draw his dedication to
excellence in performance, recording and teaching?
| "A great book of musical history and biography." Chuck Baker, Veterans Reporter. |
| "János Starker, King of Cellists would well serve as a template for similar biographies of other outstanding musicians." Midwest Book Review |
Joyce Geeting is a top-flight cellist, music professor at Cal Lutheran Univ.
Conservatory, private music teacher, performer and author of "Janos Starker:
King of Cellists," a biography about the most influential person in the history of
the cello. Her book is getting rave reviews from musicians, friends of Starker,
reviewers and people who never knew of this major force within the classical
music realms who continues, at age 84, to teach his craft at Indiana University.
Starker taught Joyce Geeting along with thousands more accomplished cellist.
Conservatory, private music teacher, performer and author of "Janos Starker:
King of Cellists," a biography about the most influential person in the history of
the cello. Her book is getting rave reviews from musicians, friends of Starker,
reviewers and people who never knew of this major force within the classical
music realms who continues, at age 84, to teach his craft at Indiana University.
Starker taught Joyce Geeting along with thousands more accomplished cellist.
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About Joyce Geeting
Cellist Joyce Geeting has performed many
concerts throughout the United States and
Europe as soloist and chamber musician,
often featured on radio or television. Most
recently she performed in Salzburg, Austria in
the new concert hall of the Mozarteum, which
overlooks the Mirabel Gardens.
The work performed, "Body Notes", is newly
composed complete with video by pianist Dr.
Hector Rasgado Flores, physiologist and
professor at the Rosalind Franklin University
in Chicago.
Cellist Joyce Geeting has performed many
concerts throughout the United States and
Europe as soloist and chamber musician,
often featured on radio or television. Most
recently she performed in Salzburg, Austria in
the new concert hall of the Mozarteum, which
overlooks the Mirabel Gardens.
The work performed, "Body Notes", is newly
composed complete with video by pianist Dr.
Hector Rasgado Flores, physiologist and
professor at the Rosalind Franklin University
in Chicago.
| Part of Review of Joyce Geeting's "Janos Starker: King of Cellists" by Ernst F. Tonsing, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus of Religion and Greek, California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, CA. Click Here to read the entire review. |
I picked up the new biography, 'János Starker: King of Cellists'
expecting to spend a couple of hours reading through it before
attending to some pressing chores. However, I could hardly put it
down until I had read through the pages of narration, recollections
and conversations about music, making music, and the gripping
story of one of the century’s greatest musicians.
Written by Dr. Joyce Geeting, Professor of Music at Cal Lutheran
University, Thousand Oaks, California, and a student of Starker’s,
the book is both a tribute to a great teacher, and a keen
examination of the components of a musical career.
Starker is not the only one to come under scrutiny. Within the
book, Starker, himself, delivers his judgments in lengthy
“conversations his opinions of other musicians, conductors such
as George Szell, Fritz Reiner, Eugene Ormandy and Antal Dorati,
and performers such as Mstislav Rostropovich, Pablo Casals,
Joshua Heifetz and many others. They are reviewed with
sometimes biting language, but always with some foundation."
expecting to spend a couple of hours reading through it before
attending to some pressing chores. However, I could hardly put it
down until I had read through the pages of narration, recollections
and conversations about music, making music, and the gripping
story of one of the century’s greatest musicians.
Written by Dr. Joyce Geeting, Professor of Music at Cal Lutheran
University, Thousand Oaks, California, and a student of Starker’s,
the book is both a tribute to a great teacher, and a keen
examination of the components of a musical career.
Starker is not the only one to come under scrutiny. Within the
book, Starker, himself, delivers his judgments in lengthy
“conversations his opinions of other musicians, conductors such
as George Szell, Fritz Reiner, Eugene Ormandy and Antal Dorati,
and performers such as Mstislav Rostropovich, Pablo Casals,
Joshua Heifetz and many others. They are reviewed with
sometimes biting language, but always with some foundation."
|
The work is a fascinating visual and aural description of human physiology
and the life experience. This cello-piano duo looks forward to
performances in Japan, Germany, Mexico, Venezuela, in Chicago and
Minneapolis and Los Angeles in the United States.
Ms. Geeting has served on the faculties of the University of Wisconsin,
Cornell College and the University of Redlands and currently teaches at
California Lutheran University Conservatory.
In addition to her performances, she aids young cellists in their musical
development. She has many award-winning students as well as former
students who are professionals on three continents.
Although a protégé of the great cellist János Starker, who calls her his
colleague, she holds a doctorate degree from the University of Oregon in
cello pedagogy and performance. She met him when she was
researching for her dissertation. Joyce plays a 220-year-old
cello made by John Edward Betts, Royal London Exchange, "with an
extraordinarily exquisite tone." (Oregon Statesman) "Exquisite tone also
describes Joyce's playing, which is dynamic, sensitive and emotionally
powerful." (Carol Worthey)
and the life experience. This cello-piano duo looks forward to
performances in Japan, Germany, Mexico, Venezuela, in Chicago and
Minneapolis and Los Angeles in the United States.
Ms. Geeting has served on the faculties of the University of Wisconsin,
Cornell College and the University of Redlands and currently teaches at
California Lutheran University Conservatory.
In addition to her performances, she aids young cellists in their musical
development. She has many award-winning students as well as former
students who are professionals on three continents.
Although a protégé of the great cellist János Starker, who calls her his
colleague, she holds a doctorate degree from the University of Oregon in
cello pedagogy and performance. She met him when she was
researching for her dissertation. Joyce plays a 220-year-old
cello made by John Edward Betts, Royal London Exchange, "with an
extraordinarily exquisite tone." (Oregon Statesman) "Exquisite tone also
describes Joyce's playing, which is dynamic, sensitive and emotionally
powerful." (Carol Worthey)
| Listen to four Sample's from Joyce Geeting's Spanish Cello Music CD. |
| or her Soul Stirring music CD. |
| Upcoming Performances by Joyce Geeting |
|
As a lovely bonus, the author includes a musical CD of her own
cello performance skills which are smooth as silk. Dr. Geeting
proves she knows whereof she speaks about cellists and the
competitive classical music scene. She takes us behind the
scenes to discover the horrendous stresses of this career field,
the massive amount of dedicated work it demands, and the
abilities such people are blessed with that place them on
pedestals high above the general population.
She truly opens a doorway into a world that few people even
know exists. János Starker personifies a heroic image of those
who compete, win, and leave their competitors in the dust. Dr
Joyce Geeting communicates this phenomenon in a cogent,
fascinating manner. Her biography should be a fascinating read
for both those people in the business and those who are
aficionados or who are contemplating entering this career field.
We rated this fascinating, truthful work five hearts.
cello performance skills which are smooth as silk. Dr. Geeting
proves she knows whereof she speaks about cellists and the
competitive classical music scene. She takes us behind the
scenes to discover the horrendous stresses of this career field,
the massive amount of dedicated work it demands, and the
abilities such people are blessed with that place them on
pedestals high above the general population.
She truly opens a doorway into a world that few people even
know exists. János Starker personifies a heroic image of those
who compete, win, and leave their competitors in the dust. Dr
Joyce Geeting communicates this phenomenon in a cogent,
fascinating manner. Her biography should be a fascinating read
for both those people in the business and those who are
aficionados or who are contemplating entering this career field.
We rated this fascinating, truthful work five hearts.
| Part of Review of Joyce Geeting's "Janos Starker: King of Cellists" by Bob Spears, Publisher and Chief Reviewer at Heartland Reviews. Click Here to read the entire review. |
| Joyce Geeting, Professor of Music at California Lutheran University Conservatory, performing Haydn and Bach with California Chamber Artists. |
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| Watch Joyce Geeting play the Kodaly Solo Sonata in two parts. This is one of the most difficult cello music pieces to learn and playand is the one which made Janos Starker a worldwide sensation at the age of 15 in 1939. Click Here to Listen to Part One Click Here to Listen to Part Two |
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February 28th at 1:00 p.m. Dr. Joyce Geeting will perform Astor
Piazzola's Le Grand Tango with piano. She and her cello
students will perform: Panis Angelicus by Cesar Franck with
soprano Laura Wargo Bachianas Brasileiras #5 for cello
ensemble and soprano Pablo Casals' Sardana for cello
ensemble Sicilienne by Faure and Sicilienne by Paradis.
Dr. Geeting and Dr. Hector Rasgado Flores will perform his
celebrated work for cello and piano, Body Notes complete with
video on March 21, 2010 at the Museum of Mexican Art and on
March 22nd at the Midwest Young Artists Culture Hall in Chicago
. March 25th they will perform the same work for the Museum of
Modern Art in Mexico City at the invitation of the government of
Mexico to celebrate the bicentennial of the country.
Piazzola's Le Grand Tango with piano. She and her cello
students will perform: Panis Angelicus by Cesar Franck with
soprano Laura Wargo Bachianas Brasileiras #5 for cello
ensemble and soprano Pablo Casals' Sardana for cello
ensemble Sicilienne by Faure and Sicilienne by Paradis.
Dr. Geeting and Dr. Hector Rasgado Flores will perform his
celebrated work for cello and piano, Body Notes complete with
video on March 21, 2010 at the Museum of Mexican Art and on
March 22nd at the Midwest Young Artists Culture Hall in Chicago
. March 25th they will perform the same work for the Museum of
Modern Art in Mexico City at the invitation of the government of
Mexico to celebrate the bicentennial of the country.