In memoriam Sir Ian Stoutzker
The British businessman, musician and philanthropist Sir Ian Stoutzker made a lifelong commitment to young musicians out of a deep conviction that music is an important factor in everyone's life. He died on 6 April 2024 at the age of 95.
21.1.1929–6.4.2024
Ian Stoutzker was born in London in 1929 and evacuated to Tredegar during the Second World War, where his mother was born and taught music and singing. He studied violin at the Royal College of Music before attending the London School of Economics, which led to a career in commercial banking.
His significant contribution to the arts began in 1961 with a gift to the Royal College of Music and marked the beginning of his lifelong commitment to music and arts philanthropy. Alongside his career in banking, Sir Ian has held important posts in the arts world, at the Royal College of Music, the Philharmonia Orchestra and the London Symphony Orchestra, and was President of the European Youth Orchestra from 2013 to 2020. For his lifelong commitment to art and music, Ian Stoutzker was awarded the British Order of Merit CBE in 2012, the Prince of Wales Medal for Philanthropy in 2013 and was knighted in the Queen's Birthday Honours list in 2019 for his work.
Ian Stoutzker's focus has always been on the impact of music in society, passing the torch, the constant renewal and vitality of European musical culture. With his commitment, he supported the music and art world worldwide with unrivalled passion. Together with Yehudi Menuhin, he founded Live Music Now in 1977 and initiated and supported numerous international projects. He loved the city of Salzburg and was a long-time and loyal concert-goer. He had a long-standing friendship with the Mozarteum University as a contemporary who was deeply enthusiastic and inspired by music and was a generous patron on several occasions. Among other things, he endowed the innovative, interdisciplinary, eagerly awaited annual The Sir Ian Stoutzker Prize and was highly esteemed for his experience and wise counsel.
The Mozarteum University mourns the loss of an extraordinary person, friend and philanthropist.
It will always remember him with gratitude and honour.
