It has been an unintended career, but a glorious one. Gary Graffman was one of the postwar OYAPs—outstanding young American pianists—a sensational soloist at the vanguard of the establishment of the New World in a culture deeply skewed toward European tradition. Many of Graffman's recordings, now a generation old, remain touchstones of the repertoire. Then, at the height of his career, muscular problems in his right hand abruptly ended his concert performances. In a happenstance, he became the director of his alma mater, the Curtis Institute of Music, where he has been for the last 20 years. Today, more than a third of the members of the Philadelphia Orchestra have diplomas signed by Graffman. It is an extraordinary testament to a pianist who never expected to teach. This spring marks his retirement from Curtis, where he will be replaced by Roberto Diaz, who left his position as principal violist of the Philadelphia Orchestra to take the job.

There will be a number of events to commemorate the close of the Graffman era at Curtis, the most public being a concert with the school orchestra, led by Christoph Eschenbach. It will be an all-20th-century program, with appropriately festive and colorful works by Stravinsky and Bartk, and Graffman as soloist for the Ravel Concerto for Piano Left Hand and Orchestra.

Sun., April 23, 8 p.m., $5-$34, Verizon Hall, 300 S. Broad St., 215-893-1999, www.kimmelcenter.org.