Remembering Gary Graffman

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra family joins the music world in mourning the loss of American pianist, teacher and administrator Gary Graffman, who died yesterday, December 27, 2025, following a brief illness. He was 97.

Born in New York City to Russian-Jewish parents on October 14, 1928, Graffman began violin studies at the age of three and soon switched to piano. He entered the Curtis Institute of Music on scholarship at age eight, studying with Isabelle Vengerova. Graffman later continued studies with Rudolf Serkin at the Marlboro Music Festival and informally with Vladimir Horowitz. In 1947, 18-year-old Graffman made his debut with the Philadelphia Orchestra under Eugene Ormandy in Rachmaninov’s Second Piano Concerto, launching an extraordinary, globe-trotting professional career.

In 1980, Graffman joined the faculty at the Curtis Institute of Music, but shortly thereafter, he was diagnosed with focal dystonia, eventually losing the use of his right hand. He increased his focus on teaching and administration, as well as performing repertoire for the left hand. Graffman took over as Curtis’ director in 1986 and added the title of president in 1995, serving in both capacities until 2006, during which he counted both Yuja Wang and Lang Lang among his myriad of students.

Graffman appeared with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra on numerous occasions, and a complete list of his appearances is below. 

January 13, 1951, Orchestra Hall
RACHMANINOV Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 18
George Schick, conductor

March 19, 1956, Pabst Theatre, Milwaukee
PROKOFIEV Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Major, Op. 26
George Schick, conductor

April 7, 1956, Orchestra Hall
TCHAIKOVSKY Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat Minor, Op. 23
George Schick, conductor

November 17, 1958, Pabst Theatre, Milwaukee
BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 37
Walter Hendl, conductor

February 10, 12, and 13, 1959, Orchestra Hall 
BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 37
Walter Hendl, conductor
Recorded in Orchestra Hall on May 5, 1959, for RCA

February 18, 1961, Orchestra Hall
February 20, 1961, Pabst Theatre, Milwaukee
RACHMANINOV Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 18
Walter Hendl, conductor

July 29, 1961, Ravinia Festival
BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 37
Paul Hindemith, conductor

August 5, 1961, Ravinia Festival
RACHMANINOV Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
Izler Solomon, conductor

January 10, 11, and 13, 1974, Orchestra Hall
RACHMANINOV Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
Guido Ajmone-Marsan, conductor

July 22, 1976, Ravinia Festival
PROKOFIEV Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Major, Op. 26
André Previn, conductor

October 14, 15, and 17, 1976, Orchestra Hall
MENDELSSOHN Piano Concerto No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 25
Sir Georg Solti, conductor

Numerous tributes have been posted online, including the Curtis Institute of Music, New York Times and Philadelphia Inquirer, among many others.

This article also appears here.