Dr. Stanford Cheung is a YAMAHA Artist who has gained a distinct presence as a Canadian-born concert pianist working in the fields of classical and contemporary music.
Known for the breadth and creativity of his programming choices, Stanford combines his piano expertise with interdisciplinary approaches to create innovative synergies that fuse electronics, improvisation, poetry, and visual art across a variety of artistic contexts. These projects have been presented internationally at institutions such as the Osaka University Faculty of Performance (Japan), the York University Crossroads Festival (Canada), the University of Edinburgh (Scotland), the Toronto Metropolitan University, Christchurch University WinterSound Festival (United Kingdom), the University of Toronto, Orpheus Institute (Belgium), the 48th Rhubarb Festival (Toronto), The Banff Centre for the Arts (Canada), the Tokyo Poetry Journal (Japan), IKLECTIK (UK), The Operating System (New York), Experimental Music Studios (Chicago), and Koumaria (Athens).
An avid collaborator, Stanford regularly works with a wide assemblage of Grammy Award-winning musicians and researchers to broaden the ontology of contemporary piano music. He is recognised for his collaborators with Richard Reed Parry (core band-member of Arcade Fire), Shahzad Ismaily (bassist for Love in Exile), Morgan Fisher (keyboardist for Queen), William Brittelle (co-founder of New Amsterdam Records), Nobuo Kubota, Steven. J. Fowler, Ichiro Fujinaga, Henry McPherson, the Scottish Improvisors Orchestra (Scotland), Medea Electronique (Greece), Figure 8 Recordings (USA), and Buddies in Bad Times (Canada).
Stanford holds a doctorate degree in music from McGill University’s Schulich School of Music under the Boris Roubakine Memorial Fund. He also served as a lecturer and instructor at McGill University where he developed an integrated methodology combining classical piano performance, technology, and improvisation practices. Stanford received his master’s degree in piano performance from McGill University and his bachelor’s degree in piano performance from the University of Toronto where he studied with the legendary late Marietta Orlov, a disciple of Florica Musicescu. Additionally, Stanford is a recipient of the FTCL Fellowship from the Trinity College of Music, London. Stanford’s past mentors have included celebrated pedagogues such as Dang Thai Son, Christopher Hinterhuber, Kum Sing Lee, and John O’Conor, who have left a meaningful impact on him.
Stanford’s recent symphonic engagements include performing Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with the Cathedral Bluffs Symphony Orchestra, Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with the Mississauga Symphony Orchestra, and the Yellow River Piano Concerto with the Ontario Cross Cultural Philharmonic Orchestra.
An avid recording artist, Dr. Cheung’s solo album entitled “Folios of Light” was released in February 2025 by Azure Sky Records. The album champions the piano works of Japanese contemporary composers notably, Takashi Yoshimatsu, Ryuichi Sakamoto, and Dai Fujikura. In May 2024 with Aural Shapes Records, Stanford also released an album of avant-garde improvised piano and electronic music entitled “ENDROLL,” produced in collaboration with the two-time Grammy-nominated artist Shahzad Ismaily, and Italian drummer Andrea Scala.
Presently, Dr. Stanford runs a boutique piano studio in Toronto, and serves as an adjudicator across numerous international music competitions. He is also the artistic director for In Concert for Cambodia, a concert initiative that helps to support The Peaceful Children’s Homes in Cambodia. Additionally, Stanford practices sound-design & recording Figure 8 Recording, New York.