MICHAELA RAE
STARZYK
Connect with Your Inner Melody
Michaela Rae Starzyk is a Double Bassist born and raised in Lagrangeville, New York. She primarily plays classically with experience in solo, orchestral, and chamber ensemble settings. Although classical music is her primary study, she also involves herself in genres such as bluegrass, jazz, and pop music, and she performs in weddings, music videos, and art festivals. Michaela has played on noteworthy stages and concert halls such as Carnegie Hall and the Palace Theater, and she jammed with the famous Eliot brothers in Nova Scotia Canada.
BIO
Musical Story
Michalea R. Starzyk has always been engrossed in the world of classical music from the moment she was born. Having parents who believed in the presence of music taking a great part in her life growing up, her parents would play classical music all through the house. As a baby, her father, Thomas A. Starzyk would have her in a sling on his chest as he played pieces such as the beautiful Claire de Lune on the piano to put her to sleep.
At the young age of four, Michaela started on the piano where her private teacher, Julie Martin Baker, where she saw true promise and a spark. In the fourth grade, Michaela began her classical bass journey where she immediately blossomed studying under Principle Bassist of the Hudson Valley Philharmonic and Albany Symphony and Bassist of the West Point Band's Concert Band Personnel, Sgt. 1st Class Phil Helm. From a young age, Michaela hungered for the stage or to simply perform for others. She was rarely nervous, instead exhilarated by being on stage or in rehearsals, ready to play and grow.
Throughout her middle school and high school life, she covered solo repitiore such as Storch-Hrabe's 57 Studies, Koussevitzky's Concerto for String Bass, and Vanhal's Concerto in D Major. She also performed in the Arlington High School Philharmonia, performing music such as Shostakovich Symphony No. 5, Mahler Symphony No. 1, and William Tell Overture. Outside of school, she rehearsed and performed with Stringendo Vivace String Orchestra, covering music such as Tchaikovsky's Serenade for Strings, Barber Adagio for Strings, and Shostakovich String Quartet No. 8 arranged for String Orchestra.
Michaela Starzyk graduated with an Associates Degree from Dutchess Community College in Performing Arts and Music Performance. She is in her fourth year in the New York Youth Symphony Orchestra and Chamber programs under Maestro Michael Repper, in which she was selected to tour in Spain this summer of 2019. Michaela performs in local gigs and events. Recently, she played the premiere of a piece in dedication to the Hudson Valley at the O+ Festival. She also took the role of the electric bassist in the up-and-coming pop artist Jennifer Denali's music video Girlfriend.
Family is held of high importance to Michaela and cherishes the time she has with them. She works towards keeping life interesting with hobbies such as cosplaying and puzzles. Michaela Starzyk is a hardworking, enthusiastic bassist who truly believes in keeping the fine arts alive.
SERVICES
For Your Musical Needs
Ms. Starzyk offers local services including subbing in for gigs (open to all genres) and teaching double bass and elementary piano both privately and in group settings. She continues to expand her experience further and is open to numerous possibilities. If you have any questions or would like to contact Michaela Starzyk, go to the bottom of the page or hit contact in the header to reach her. (Please be specific. List what it is you are asking/requesting, dates, time, location - if necessary -, etc.)
30 minute lesson: $15
1 hour lesson: $35
LIVE PERFORMANCES
Here Michaela is performing the Bach Cello Suit No. 1 Prelude in a small student recital at Dutchess Community College. She performs every year on bass for the student recital, but she has also sung in previous years, singing classical works such as Samuel Barber's The Daisies and songs by pop/alternative artists like Pricilla Ahn and Jason Moraz.
MUSIC PROGRAMS
Michaela has been a part of the New York Youth Symphony Orchestra for three years. This is a picture of this year's 2018-19 season bass section. The ensemble performed numerous works, her favorites of which included Shostakovich Symphony No. 5, La Valse by Revel, Rochmoninoff Piano Concerto No. 2.
In previous years, Michaela volunteered with the Stringendo Program of the Hudson Valley, working with young kids one-on-one on their music and helping with whatever difficulties they had. She enjoys working with children very much and hopes to continue working alongside young musicians in the classical arts in the future.
ARTISTIC HOBBIES
Within the arts, Michaela has branched out into other areas, creating a hobby of cosplaying. She was influenced by her sister, Serena C. Starzyk, and has learned how to act, impersonate, and artistically interpret herself inside a character. Within this hobby, Michaela loves to incorporate music into it, playing soundtracks from a particular series she cosplays on both the bass and piano.
Michaela indeed loves the arts. She finds herself engulfed in the world of Fine Arts, Pop Culture, and arts and music of other countries. She is presently studying on her own time Korean and plans to learn other languages such as Russian and German due to her love for Shostakovich and Brahms.
LIFE IMPORTANCE
Michaela is a big supporter of keeping the classical arts alive. She believes that many do not know of the beauty, lessons, and stories classical music brings to our lives. Within her each and every day, she continues to spread her concern and passion to the people she can reach out to such as colleagues, family, and friends, hoping that they too will spread the joy and magnificence of classical music.
Equally as important, Michaela finds spending time with her family to be a very special thing. Within her close family circle, she has her parents, Thomas A. and Serena L. Starzyk, and two older sisters, Victoria M. Starzyk, a medical student, and Serena C. Starzyk, a tea enthusiast, all of whom have been influential and supportive of her music career.
Following both of these, she sees physical well-being and good health as a platform for everything. She enjoys eating fresh produce and homemade recipes, and she loves being active by going to the gym, running, weight lifting, hiking, swimming, etc. Life is never boring with Michaela Starzyk.
"When a man is in despair, it means that he still believes in something."
Dimitri Shostakovich - 1979
GALLERY
RESUME
Double Bass
BIO
I have been playing the Double Bass (primary) for about 13 years and Piano (secondary) for 17 years. I perform and play with a German bow and a stool. Music has become a great part of my life. I have worked hard perfecting my skills and covering as much solo, orchestral, and chamber music as possible and eagerly look for more consistently. My passion for music drives my ambition to keep the classical arts alive.
EXPERIENCE
New York Youth Symphony Orchestra
2016-Present
Repertoire:
Prokofiev Symphony No. 5
Ravel La Valse
Brahms Symphony No. 3
New York Youth Chamber Ensemble
2016-2017
Repertoire:
Schubert Trout Quintet
Strawberry Hill Fiddlers (Bluegrass)
2014-2016
Repertoire:
Screaming Mimi by Jay Ungar and Molly Mason
Westphalia Waltz by Cotton Collins
Dutchess Community Orchestra Stage Manager
2017-Present
EDUCATION
Dutchess Community College/ Associates in Performing Arts
2016-Present
Master Classes
-Hal Robinson; Double Bass - Curtis Institute does Music (2015)
-Nick Walker; Double Bass - Ithaca College School of Music (2015)
-Ethan Jodziewicz; Double Bass - The Curtis Institute of Music (2016)
-Orli Shaham; Piano - NYY Chamber Music (2017)
-The Shanghai Quartet - NYY Chamber Music (2017)
AWARDS
Arlington High School Concerto Competition Winner
2016
Vandal Bass Concerto Mvt. 1
Russell & Gloria Draft Memorial Scholarship for Performing Arts
2017
ASTA National Orchestra Festival, Louisville, KY
2014
Grand Prize Winner, Youth Orchestra Division- Vivace Orchestra
ASTA National Orchestra Festival, Tampa Bay, FL
2016
Grand Prize Winner, Youth Orchestra Division- Vivace Orchestra
