Alexander Stefaniak

Alexander Stefaniak is Associate Professor of Musicology at Washington University in St. Louis, where he serves as Head of Musicology and Director of Undergraduate Studies. His research focuses on 19th-century piano culture, virtuosity, and performance practices. He holds a PhD from Eastman School of Music and BM from Baldwin-Wallace College.

Stefaniak investigates how pianists shaped musical aesthetics and canon formation during the Romantic era. His scholarship integrates archival research with performance analysis, examining figures like Clara and Robert Schumann. Recent work explores contemporary pianists' reinterpretations of classical canons.

His publications include two monographs on Schumann virtuosity and Clara Schumann's performance strategies, supported by faculty fellowships. Stefaniak teaches courses on Beethoven, Mozart, Romantic revolutions, and musicological research methods.