In memoriam Stan Ford

With Stan Ford’s passing, the Mozarteum University has lost an extraordinary artist, an inspiring educator and a deeply valued member of our community. Born in St. Louis, he studied piano at Southern Illinois University with Ruth Slenczynska. A Fulbright Program scholarship brought him to Salzburg, where he continued his studies with Hans Leygraf, Alfons Kontarsky, and Christoph Lieske.

From 1986 onwards, Stan Ford served as Professor of Piano at the Mozarteum University Salzburg, where he guided generations of students from around the world. He was also a longstanding and deeply committed member of the university’s Equal Opportunities Task Force.

Stan Ford had a rare gift for nurturing not only his students’ artistic development, but also their confidence, individuality and love of music. He created an atmosphere of warmth, trust and creative freedom in which every student felt seen, respected and encouraged.

Despite his distinguished international career as a soloist, chamber musician and masterclass teacher, he remained a man of great modesty, kindness, and humanity. His artistry, his teaching, and his generous spirit will continue to inspire all who had the privilege of knowing him.

The Mozarteum University Salzburg will honour Stan Ford’s memory with profound gratitude and enduring respect.
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"I first came to know Professor Stan Ford in the early 1990s as a highly qualified and warm-hearted colleague, whom I held in the highest regard. His exceptional musicianship, combined with his subtle humour and razor-sharp wit – which he brought to his interactions with colleagues and students alike – earned him not only great respect, but also genuine affection throughout our community.

I know that I am one of many who deeply miss a highly esteemed yet approachable colleague who has left us far too soon."

Andreas Weber

"Professor Stan Ford’s students were always in a particular artistic frame of mind when they came to see me – they were filled with a heightened joy in music and already mentally prepared for their lessons in concert improvisation. This made a deep impression on me and, at the same time, aroused my curiosity. When I asked them about it, they spoke of the creative experiences they had in his piano lessons. These young people loved and respected their teacher with a warmth otherwise found only within a family.

A particularly memorable moment for me was discovering a forgotten concert programme from a recital given by his class in the Kleines Studio, lovingly designed by Maestro Ford himself. I looked at this little work of art with the wonder of a child: every single performer was personally acknowledged with an elegant handwritten note from their teacher and mentor.
If I had not fully understood it before, it became crystal clear to me in that moment that Stan Ford had opened up to his students a creative, warm, and artistic world full of light and hope – a world that instilled lasting confidence and self-belief. To me, that is true education, something profoundly necessary in our unsettled times. Happy are those who had the privilege of being taught by him."

Galina Vracheva

"Stan was a very special friend and colleague to me. Whether I encountered him as jury chair, as a colleague, or as a fellow musician, every meeting was marked by warmth, openness, and humanity. The memories of our conversations, meetings, and moments together will remain with me—quiet, warm, and vividly alive. I will miss Stan very much."

Ji-Hye Jung