Asadour Santourian (1958 - 2026)

Cocorico was his favorite restaurant in Ashland, OR. He knew a good thing when he saw it.

Last week, my illustrious colleague Asadour Santourian left this Earth. He was my favorite kind of person: utterly brilliant, yet not boasting about it.

Asadour had a singular knowledge of our field and his instincts for finding and promoting gifted virtuosos were legendary. Still, he knew how much I loved programming and thus never stepped on my toes. Instead, he waited for me to ask: “What do you think a good opener would be for this concert?,” “Which of these three pianists would be best for this particular concerto?,” and “This piece is close but can we find something a touch less dramatic and a bit more festive?”

Programming sessions with Asadour were a highlight of my work week. I left every meeting with a list of repertoire that I was somehow still unfamiliar with - unlike Asadour, who seemingly knew everything intimately.

Asadour did not suffer fools but showered everyone else with warmth, charm, and guidance. He took those who cared to learn under his wing - something that he had a life-long passion of doing. He was a gentleman to the core. He was a connoisseur of fine art and a fine meal.

Asadour wowed with his musical prowess but it is his human qualities that make me miss him. He was one of a kind. He left prematurely but there was never enough time with him.

I don’t think that the length of our interaction- just a few short years - entitles me to call Asadour my friend. We had a mutual affection. It is one of those things that I mourn selfishly: I was looking forward to becoming his friend.

Asadour and Michael Stephen Brown in January 2026. Michael played MacDowell's Piano Concerto No. 2.