He passed his high school graduation exam in 1946 and began to study architecture at the Vienna University of Technology.

Having also passed the Diploma Examination in piano in 1951, Graf gave his debut that same year as a soloist at Konzerthaus, Vienna.

Starting in 1963 Graf frequently taught as an instructor at similar institutions in Europe (Seville, Bilbao, Porto), South America and Japan.

Graf interrupted his teaching career in Vienna twice (1971/72 and 1974/75) to accept a visiting professorship at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University at Bloomington.

It contained an interpretation of Johann Sebastian Bach’s “The Art of Fugue” in Bruno Seidlhofer’s adaptation for four hands, performed with his daughter Clarissa Graf Costa.