JAMES STARK

Early Life:

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James M. Stark was born in Oakland, California on July 18, 1948. His father, Derrel P. Stark, was a construction foreman and his mother, Pearl Finn Stark, was an elementary school teacher and played viola in local community orchestras. James and his younger sister, Evelyn Stark Pagni, grew up in Hayward, CA. After their parents got divorced when he was nine years old, James and Lynn spent every Sunday with his dad and stepmom, Pat. 

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James started studying violin at age seven. He sang in the boys' choir at the Lutheran church he attended and the San Francisco Boys Chorus, studying voice through Junior High.

 

In a conversation with his daughter in 2008, James described himself as "not very confident" as a youth and always did "what I should be doing," including joining a fraternity in college. Despite his quiet nature, he developed into a striking young musician dedicated to his craft and it was clear he loved music more than anything.

 

He began his Bachelors of Music at San Jose State and followed his teacher, Albert Gillis, to Fresno State University where he completed his Bachelors and Masters degrees. Mr. Gillis had a great influence on James' life and music career.

 

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Career:  A Lifetime of Music and Performance

 

As a student of Albert Gillis, Mr. Stark began his violin studies at the age of seven in the San Francisco Bay area. In 1980, he was appointed concertmaster for the Heidelberg Chamber Orchestra and toured extensively in Europe and the United States performing in the major capital cities as a soloist in over 150 concerts.

 

After returning to the United States, Mr. Stark taught at the California State University, Fresno and was concertmaster of the Fresno Philharmonic Orchestra for ten years. He appeared as a soloist numerous times, performing repertoire such as the Barber Violin Concerto and the Brahms Concerto for violin and cello. When free from his teaching duties, he played with the San Francisco Symphony under the direction of Herbert Blomstedt.

 

Mr. Stark was a member of the Los Angeles Opera Orchestra for 20 years [from 1995-2015], which was under the direction of Placido Domingo and James Conlon. In early 2001, he was the featured violinist onstage in Handel’s "Cesare" as a major soloist with countertenor David Daniels to superior reviews.*

 

He also completed two tours of Japan as a principal player with the Percy Faith Orchestra and recorded on a regular basis for various artists such as Barry Manilow, Steve Lawrence, Keely Smith, Linda Ronstadt and Monica Mancini.

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He was well-respected in the Southern California music community. In addition to the LA Opera Orchestra, Mr. Stark has been soloist and member with the La Mirada Symphony, the West Coast Symphony in Santa Barbara, the Brentwood Westwood Symphony, the Pacific Palisades Symphony, La Cañada Presbyterian Church Orchestra, Los Angeles Master Chorale Orchestra and the California Philharmonic.

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“The La Mirada Symphony was honored to have someone of his caliber as a past concertmaster,” said David Derks, president of the La Mirada Symphony Association. “He will be greatly missed.”

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-- Based on excerpts from the La Mirada Symphony website and other performance biographies.

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* L.A. Times Review - February 26, 2001

* SF Gate Review - March 3, 2001

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Career as a music educator:

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In graduate school, James started teaching at Fresno State University. He later received his teaching credential in music education. He taught all grade levels and could play and teach every band and orchestral instrument, though he admitted with a laugh he could "never quite get the hang of the bassoon." 

 

His impressive musical and technical knowledge touched the lives of thousands of students throughout his career teaching music for 24 years in the California public school system, including the Clovis and Whittier School districts. He retired from teaching in public schools in 2009, but continued to teach privately up until the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

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Personal Life:

 

In 1977, he married to Mona Reed before they divorced a few years later. When he moved to Fresno, CA, he met Nancy Bank at the local Religious Science Church. They became very involved with the church and both completed their New Thought ministerial studies with Rev. Don Ringness. In September 1981, he married Nancy Bank and they had one daughter, Cheryl Joy Stark in May 1984 (now Cheri Jamison). James and Nancy were married 13 years before they separated and eventually divorced.

 

He moved to Los Angeles in the early 1990s where he pursued music and teaching. In 2004, James met and married Janet Marshall. He and Janet enjoyed 16 years of marriage, laughing daily, and enjoying their many pets up until his passing in 2020.

 

His daughter, Cheri, inherited his musical genes, received a Bachelors of Music from USC's Thornton School of Music and performing as a professional opera singer for many years. Cheri even got to perform with her dad a couple of times with the La Mirada Symphony.

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James was a gentle man and had an easy-going personality, which served him as he worked with children. He had a great sense of humor and loved to laugh, especially with his best friend, Nick Anderson (cellist) and wife, Janet. James loved animals and had many pets throughout his lifetime. He was interested in the latest tech gadgets and always reading and learning about something, which he would often chat about with his sister, Lynn.  For a time he was very into health and weight loss solutions, which led to his involvement with online marketing and health products.

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He was a private man and did not let many into his inner circle, so most people did not know he was ill from chronic kidney disease, and other complications from diabetes, until close to the end of his life.

 

During his final hours, his wife Janet and daughter Cheri made sure he was comfortable. Cheri gently sang the aria, “O mio babbino caro,” (Oh, My Beloved Father) as she held his hand. The classical music station was on quietly all night long. He passed peacefully in the early morning hours on September 29, 2020.

 

Cheri later wrote a published article in the Unity booklet, Peaceful Passing, about being part of his inner circle during his transition.

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The outpouring of love, support, and care from his community showed how much he was truly loved and respected. Though we were not able to gather in person due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this memorial website is our way of celebrating and honoring his remarkable life.

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Above all else, James loved music.

 

His entire life is a testament to his musical talent and ultimately music is his legacy. We will forever remember him with a violin in his hands, bringing beautiful melodies into this world and leaving them in our hearts.

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