René Staar

René Staar (born 30 May 1951) is an Austrian composer, violinist and conductor. Life Born in Graz, Staar composed his first pieces as a child. He attended the Östermalms Musikskole Stockholm in 1962-1963 and studied music theory with Walter Wasservogel. This was followed by violin studies with Franz Samohyl and, from 1965, studies in harmony and counterpoint at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna. In 1968, Staar completed guest studies at the Sibelius Academy with Anja Ignatius (violin) and Izumi Tateno (piano). In Helsinki he also made his debut as a violinist and pianist. In Vienna he continued his training with Alfred Uhl (composition), Erich Urbanner (twelve-tone music) and Francesco Valdambrini (Neue Musik) and began conducting studies with Hans Swarowsky and Karl Österreicher in 1972. From 1977, he took master classes with Nathan Milstein in Zurich and completed postgraduate studies with Roman Haubenstock-Ramati in 1981, receiving further impulses from Leonard Bernstein. From 1974, Staar was assistant to his teacher Franz Samohyl. In 1979, he founded the Trio des Trois Mondes, which existed until 1981. As a violinist he performed with the Vienna Symphony Orches