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| Janos Starker: King of Cellists Joyce Geeting |
Music CDs from Cellist Joyce Geeting
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| Listen to four Sample's from Joyce Geeting's Spanish Cello Music CD. |
| or her Soul Stirring music CD. |
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| Article in Not Born Yesterday newspaper Cellist Writes about her Mentor, a Holocaust Survivor by Carol Osman, Publisher and Editor |
| "János Starker, King of Cellists would well serve as a template for similar biographies of other outstanding musicians." Midwest Book Review |
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Joyce Geeting, herself a recognized cellist, has performed
concerts throughout the U.S. and Europe as both soloist
and chamber musician. She spent about 10 years off and
on writing János Starker: King of Cellists. She first met the
subject of her biography when she was researching
prominent cellists for her doctoral dissertation.
concerts throughout the U.S. and Europe as both soloist
and chamber musician. She spent about 10 years off and
on writing János Starker: King of Cellists. She first met the
subject of her biography when she was researching
prominent cellists for her doctoral dissertation.
That was the night that launched Starker's reputation and his
career. However, Joyce reports, his career was interrupted by the
ordeal of World War II. Although he was Jewish, he and his family
were baptized into the Lutheran church to avoid being confined to
crowded underground holes or cellars. Nevertheless, his two
brothers were killed. He was held in a detention camp for four
months but was set free because he had been issued a genuine
Swedish passport and granted Swedish citizenship.
He had been contracted to play principal cello with the Goteborg
Symphony in Sweden. However, he was unable to reach Sweden
because Meanwhile, the Nazis were becoming increasingly
suspicious of his wife. A Catholic, she had cared for and fed
people in the ghetto, smuggled many out, and helped fabricate
documents so that many could get out of the labor camps. When
the Russians overran Budapest, Starker and a young medical
student posed as medics, broke into an abandoned pharmacy and
stole all of the sulfamid as well as other drugs.
They avoided being killed by the Russian soldiers by giving the
soldiers sulfa drugs (the only cure for venereal disease at the
time). "Starker's wartime experiences, preceded by his being
declared ‘stateless' in the country of his birth, led him to become
very independent and selfsufficient... During his lengthy music
career, he has been unafraid of anyone because he concluded
that nothing worse could possibly happen to him.
After all that he went through, his resolve was like steel," Joyce
writes. Starker also has a sense of humor. When flying around the
world for various performances, he always bought an airline seat
for his cello to sit next to him. He said, "Sometimes I put a person
asleep. People find that amusing." After the war, it was still a
struggle to survive, but he gradually gained recognition in the
music world and eventually was offered a contract with the Dallas
Symphony—and help in obtaining an American visa.
At age 84, János Starker is still teaching at Indiana University.
Joyce Geeting, who lives in the San Fernando Valley, is teaching
at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks. Previously,
she has taught at University of Wisconsin, Cornell College and
University of Redlands. She plays a 230-year-old cello that she
treasures. A grandmother and mother of three sons, she has also
known tragedy in her life. She had been teaching in public schools
when her first husband was killed in a plane crash. Joyce says, "I
heard about the crash, and thought, ‘what would I do if my
husband was on that plane?'"
The answer was to go back to university for a doctorate and teach
at the college level. When working on her dissertation she
attended a weeklong seminar led by János Starker. Following her
first performance, his comment was "This is a very high level of
cello playing." She has continued to visit him through the years
and refers to Starker as "my cello father." Significantly, he refers
to her as a "colleague."
career. However, Joyce reports, his career was interrupted by the
ordeal of World War II. Although he was Jewish, he and his family
were baptized into the Lutheran church to avoid being confined to
crowded underground holes or cellars. Nevertheless, his two
brothers were killed. He was held in a detention camp for four
months but was set free because he had been issued a genuine
Swedish passport and granted Swedish citizenship.
He had been contracted to play principal cello with the Goteborg
Symphony in Sweden. However, he was unable to reach Sweden
because Meanwhile, the Nazis were becoming increasingly
suspicious of his wife. A Catholic, she had cared for and fed
people in the ghetto, smuggled many out, and helped fabricate
documents so that many could get out of the labor camps. When
the Russians overran Budapest, Starker and a young medical
student posed as medics, broke into an abandoned pharmacy and
stole all of the sulfamid as well as other drugs.
They avoided being killed by the Russian soldiers by giving the
soldiers sulfa drugs (the only cure for venereal disease at the
time). "Starker's wartime experiences, preceded by his being
declared ‘stateless' in the country of his birth, led him to become
very independent and selfsufficient... During his lengthy music
career, he has been unafraid of anyone because he concluded
that nothing worse could possibly happen to him.
After all that he went through, his resolve was like steel," Joyce
writes. Starker also has a sense of humor. When flying around the
world for various performances, he always bought an airline seat
for his cello to sit next to him. He said, "Sometimes I put a person
asleep. People find that amusing." After the war, it was still a
struggle to survive, but he gradually gained recognition in the
music world and eventually was offered a contract with the Dallas
Symphony—and help in obtaining an American visa.
At age 84, János Starker is still teaching at Indiana University.
Joyce Geeting, who lives in the San Fernando Valley, is teaching
at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks. Previously,
she has taught at University of Wisconsin, Cornell College and
University of Redlands. She plays a 230-year-old cello that she
treasures. A grandmother and mother of three sons, she has also
known tragedy in her life. She had been teaching in public schools
when her first husband was killed in a plane crash. Joyce says, "I
heard about the crash, and thought, ‘what would I do if my
husband was on that plane?'"
The answer was to go back to university for a doctorate and teach
at the college level. When working on her dissertation she
attended a weeklong seminar led by János Starker. Following her
first performance, his comment was "This is a very high level of
cello playing." She has continued to visit him through the years
and refers to Starker as "my cello father." Significantly, he refers
to her as a "colleague."
Joyce writes that of the five cello artist-teachers that she observed, Starker made the most
lasting impression. He has shared his wealth of knowledge and experience with thousands
of students.
He "discovered in his youth that his own understanding of music and the possibilities of the
instrument grew as he helped others, a philosophy that has remained the touchstone of his
career," says Joyce. Plus, he has performed in over a thousand of his own recitals, over a
thousand performances with the Metropolitan Opera and a thousand concerts with the
Chicago Symphony. And he has recorded nearly all of the standard cello repertoire and
premiered many new works. "No one else has done all that," says Joyce.
Growing up in Budapest, Hungary, Starker was a child prodigy. He was teaching five
students by age 12. He became a sensation when at age 15, still in knee pants, he
flawlessly performed Kodaly's Sonata for Solo Violoncello, a piece so difficult that it asked
the cellist to do things "which had been previously unknown, unheard of, even considered
impossible."
lasting impression. He has shared his wealth of knowledge and experience with thousands
of students.
He "discovered in his youth that his own understanding of music and the possibilities of the
instrument grew as he helped others, a philosophy that has remained the touchstone of his
career," says Joyce. Plus, he has performed in over a thousand of his own recitals, over a
thousand performances with the Metropolitan Opera and a thousand concerts with the
Chicago Symphony. And he has recorded nearly all of the standard cello repertoire and
premiered many new works. "No one else has done all that," says Joyce.
Growing up in Budapest, Hungary, Starker was a child prodigy. He was teaching five
students by age 12. He became a sensation when at age 15, still in knee pants, he
flawlessly performed Kodaly's Sonata for Solo Violoncello, a piece so difficult that it asked
the cellist to do things "which had been previously unknown, unheard of, even considered
impossible."
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. 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)
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. 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)
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