Janos Starker Dies: Award Winning Cello Player Dead At 88; How Did He Die?

Famous cellist János Starker passed away Sunday after months of declining health. He was 88.

He passed away in his Bloomington, Ind., home in the presence of family members. His death was confirmed by a family representative.

Born in Budapest, Starker was a child prodigy who had music students by the age of 12. Born to a Jewish family, he spent three months in Nazi concentration camps. He immigrated to the U.S. at 24, and begun his career playing for the Dallas Symphony, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chicago Symphony before joining Indiana University in 1958.

He is survived by his wife and two daughters.