Sir Ian Isaac Stoutzker CBE is a British banker, musician and philanthropist. He was born in England in 1929. He was born into a musical family. His father was the cantor at the Central Synagogue in London and his mother, Dora Cohen, a piano teacher in Tredegar, South Wales.

Education

• Berkhamsted School
• Royal College of Music
• London School of Economics

Citation

The Royal Academy of Music's citation for its award of Honorary Fellowship to Ian Stoutzker in 2008 stated, "With the possible exception of George Frideric Handel, no individual has done more to bring music to children and the disadvantaged in the history of this country than Ian Stoutzker"

Royal College of Music

Stouzker studied the violin with the English violinist Albert Sammons at the Royal College of Music. He might have become a professional musician himself but chose to work in commerce to support his devotion to music. He became a member of the Council of the Royal College in 1968 and served for 31 years. On retirement in 1999 he was made a vice president of the college.

Notable musical involvements

Following the death of its principal conductor, Otto Klemperer, in 1973, the New Philharmonia Orchestra needed financial support and new musical leadership. The financial support was provided when for the first time a non-playing member of a London orchestra was appointed chairman. Stoutzker was in a position to give financial support and had wide contacts able to provide leadership during this difficult period.

Among other musical activities

Co-chairman - Voices Foundation 1992-2003

Member - Finance Committee of the Musicians Benevolent Fund 1980-2004

Awards

Stoutzker has been the recipient of a number of prestigious awards.

1969 - Fellow of the Royal College of Music^[1]

1993 - Order of the British Empire

2006 - Hon. Member of the London Symphony Orchestra ^[2]

2008 - Hon. Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music 

2011 - Fellow of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama ^[3]

2012 - Commander of the British Empire for services to Music^[4]

2013 - Prince of Wales Medal for Arts Philanthropy - a joint award with Lady Stoutzker^[5]

2017 - Robert Maskrey Award for Arts Philanthropy ^[6]

2019 - Knighthood Queen's Birthday Honours for Services to Music and to Philanthropy^[7]

2020 - Hon. Member Royal Society of Musicians of Great Britain

Notable Charitable Donations

These have included:

With his wife Mercedes, a major gift was made of nine important works of British modern art to the Tate Gallery including works by Lucien Freud, David Hockney, Peter Doig and Hurvin Anderson ^[8]

A significant gift for the Dora Stoutzker Hall at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, in memory of Ian's mother, Dora Cohen, who was a music teacher in Tredegar, South Wales.^[9]

A major donation contributed to acquire the famous 'Viotti Stradivari' violin for the Royal Academy of Music's Instrument Collection.

End Note

Since 2008 Sir Ian and Lady Stoutzker have been resident in Salzburg, Austria.

References