JASON STARR - Producer and Director

Since 1981 Mr. Starr has directed over one hundred television programs for broadcast on PBS, CBC, A&E, BRAVO, and independent stations in the United States and Europe. These programs range from classical music and modern dance performances to documentary profiles of artists and cultural issues.

One of his most recent productions, What the Universe Tells Me: Unraveling the Mysteries of Mahler’s Third Symphony narrated by Oscar nominee and Emmy Award-winner Stockard Channing, won the 2004 Maui Film Festival “Visionary Filmmaker Award” and was an official selection of the 2005 Montreal International Festival of Films on Art in addition to being a New York Times “Critic’s Pick”. The documentary, which features acclaimed baritone Thomas Hampson and numerous music historians and philosophers, was released for worldwide broadcast distribution by Tapestry International and as a DVD—with subtitles in seven languages—by Video Artists International.

As producer of the nationally broadcast PBS series Backstage/Lincoln Center, Jason Starr created two seasons of programs exploring issues of performance and creativity in preparation for concerts aired on Live From Lincoln Center. Talent included Emanuel Ax, Alfred Brendel, Sarah Chang, Yo-Yo Ma, Kurt Masur, and members of the New York Philharmonic, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, New York City Opera and the Mostly Mozart Festival. From 1994-96 Mr. Starr was credited as Segment Producer for the Emmy Award winning Live From Lincoln Center. The twelve-part documentary series Filmmakers, produced and directed by Mr. Starr, completed two runs on PBS stations around the country, and Wildlife Cinematographer Wolfgang Bayer was broadcast nationally on PBS and as part of the National Geographic Explorer series. Ars Nova, the acclaimed performing arts series featuring the Emerson String Quartet, Gilbert Kalish and the New York New Music Ensemble among its many guests, was prime-time viewing across Canada on the CBC. Mr. Starr also produced and directed The Beethoven Cycle, featuring the Guarneri Quartet, hosted by Hal Linden. Broadcast in over twenty countries (domestically on BRAVO) and released as a videocassette, laser disc and DVD, this one-hour chamber music special was heralded by the Chicago Sun-Times as “a breakthrough tape for classical music video programming.”

Jason Starr holds a B.M. in composition from Hartt School of Music and a M.M. from Manhattan School of Music. Mr. Starr also serves as a consultant to academic institutions on the use of television for educational purposes. In both 1993 and 1994 his educational programs won the Golden Apple Award presented by PBS for innovative use of technology for education. He resides in New York City where he is currently working on several projects including a feature length documentary: The Resurrection of Gustav Mahler.