George Pappastavrou

George Pappastavrou, a critically acclaimed concert pianist, known for his recording of the Ives “Concord” Sonata, passed away on Friday, September 26th, 2025.

Born in 1930, he was a first-generation American of Greek descent and a Professor of Music at Syracuse University. He grew up in Syracuse, New York and attended the Juilliard School as both an undergraduate and graduate student (1949 – 1956). He studied under Irwin Freundlich and Alton Jones. His Juilliard friends and fellow students included the well-known pianist Van Cliburn and soprano Leontyne Price. He made his New York debut in Town Hall in 1960, where he reintroduced Charles Ives “Concord” Sonata to American audiences. He later made a recording of that work (CRI – 150). Following that he made a recording of the Ives three pieces for “two pianos tuned a quarter-tone apart” (Columbia Odyssey 32-16-0162) and he asked composers Calvin Hampton, Donald Lybbert, and Teo Macero to each contribute a work in quarter-tones for that recording.

In addition to playing and recording in the United States and Europe, he also toured Russia, at the invitation of the Ministry of Culture, and was sponsored by the USIA (1974) for trips to China (1987 and again in 1988) and Singapore (1990).

George joined the music faculty at the School of Music at Syracuse University in 1961, served as Professor of Music for more than thirty years and was Director of the School from 1983 – 1992. During the 1980s, he made several trips to China, where he visited numerous music schools through-out the country, played recitals of American music and inspired many students to return with him for graduate work at Syracuse. During his career he knew and worked with a number of notable composers, musicians, dancers and other artists, including Henry Cowell, Calvin Hampton, Howard Boatwright, Aaron Copland, Luise Talma, Louis Krasner and Martha Graham.

In 1965 George, together with two other musician friends, Alexander Dashnaw and Douglas March, purchased an old farm in the Adirondacks and they found themselves totally involved in organic gardening. This led, a few years later, to opening, in the original farmhouse, the first health-food store in the area. George was smitten by planting, weeding, raising animals and harvesting his huge garden and together they continued for a number of years, to manage the farm, the health food store and their respective musical careers.

George is survived by his lifelong partners Alexander Dashnaw and Douglas March, his sister Christine Foley of Syracuse and several nieces and nephews. His parents Constantine and Constance (Annis) and his two sisters, Tina Facciolo (Tony) and Callie Ann Pappastavrou, and his brother-in-law, Gary Folley predeceased him.

According to his wishes, there will be no funeral services. A celebration of Life will take place at a later date next summer. Friends wishing to remember George Pappastavrou may make memorial contributions to Historic Saranac Lake and /or High Peaks Hospice in care of Fortune-Keough Funeral Home in Saranac Lake.