TIMOTHY SCHWARZ, violin/viola
One Paragraph Bio
Since his solo debut with the legendary Philadelphia Orchestra at age nine, violinist Timothy Schwarz has had a brilliant career as a soloist, chamber musician, and pedagogue. His work promoting living composers has led to numerous recordings, performances, and premieres around the globe earning accolades such as "A virtuoso tour de force" (Gramophone) and "glorious tone and impeccable technique" (Music Web International). An avid educator, Schwarz is currently Visiting Professor of Performance at the London College of Music, Associate Professor and Head of Strings at Rowan University and Founder and Artistic Director of the Techne Music Festival. In 1996 the United States named him an Artistic Ambassador, resulting in over 100 solo concerts promoting American music throughout Africa, the Middle East, South America and Southeast Asia. In-between his solo playing and teaching, Schwarz is often performing as a substitute violinist with the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Baltimore Symphony. He owns several fine violins, including a 1745 Carlo Antonio Testore, an 1830 J. B. Vuillaume, and a 1921 Leandro Bisiach. For further information and a performance schedule, visit www.TimothySchwarz.com.
Revised September 2024
Short Bio
Since his solo debut with the legendary Philadelphia Orchestra at age nine, violinist Timothy Schwarz has had a brilliant career as a soloist, chamber musician, and pedagogue. Praised for his "charismatic playing" (Music Web International) and "A virtuoso tour de force" (Gramophone), Schwarz regularly performs throughout Europe, Asia, and the Americas as a soloist and chamber musician. His teaching skills have earned him masterclass and residency invitations at prestigious institutions around the world.
His many CD’s include the 2023 release of The Living American by Albany Records "A virtuoso tour de force" (Gramophone) "Glorious tone and impeccable technique" (Music Web International), the 2018 release of Anthems from Prometheus by Albany Records "All credit to Timothy Schwarz for providing a performance as gripping from first to last as this one" (Fanfare Magazine), the 2013 release of Early Chamber Works by Jennifer Higdon by Naxos "Top 10 Classical Albums in 2013" (Philadelphia City Paper) and his 2006 release of Timothy Schwarz, Live! By Centaur Records "Good enough to be the only recording in your collection" (American Record Guide).
An avid educator, Schwarz is currently Associate Professor and Head of Strings at Rowan University, Visiting Professor of Performance at the London College of Music, and Artistic Director and Founder of Techne Music, which includes a summer chamber music camp and concert series. For a five-year period through 2001, Schwarz served three tours as Artistic Ambassador in South America, Asia, and Africa, performing over 100 recitals in 15 countries. As part of winning the Starling Violin Competition, he studied with Dorothy DeLay at the Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music. He later received a MM from the Peabody Conservatory and a DMA from Temple University. He owns an extensive collection of fine violins, including a 1745 Carlo Antonio Testore, an 1830 Jean Baptiste Vuillaume and a 1921 Leandro Bisiach. For further information and a performance schedule, visit www.TimothySchwarz.com.
Revised September 2024
Expanded Biographical Information
Since his solo debut with the legendary Philadelphia Orchestra at age nine, violinist Timothy Schwarz has had a brilliant career as a soloist, chamber musician, and pedagogue. Praised for his "charismatic playing" (Music Web International) and "A virtuoso tour de force" (Gramophone), Schwarz regularly performs throughout Europe, Asia, and the Americas as a soloist and chamber musician. His teaching skills have earned him masterclass and residency invitations at prestigious institutions around the world.
His many CD’s include the 2023 release of The Living American by Albany Records "Glorious tone and impeccable technique" (Music Web International), the 2018 release of Anthems from Prometheus by Albany Records "All credit to Timothy Schwarz for providing a performance as gripping from first to last as this one" (Fanfare Magazine), the 2013 release of Early Chamber Works by Jennifer Higdon by Naxos "Top 10 Classical Albums in 2013" (Philadelphia City Paper) and his 2006 release of Timothy Schwarz, Live! By Centaur Records "Good enough to be the only recording in your collection" (American Record Guide).
His solo career began with his first prize award for the Philadelphia Orchestra Children Competition at the age of eight. As a result of this competition he gave the Philadelphia Orchestra premiere of Kabalevsky's Violin Concerto in C Major. Other awards include Gold Medal in the Artistic Ambassador Competition in Washington, DC, Silver Medal in the Starling Competition, and Best Artist in Maryland from the National Endowment from the Arts.
Throughout his career, Schwarz has given special attention to promoting American composers. His recent tours and recordings look at the wide range of ethnic and musical backgrounds found in American culture including Indian raags, Arab maqams, jazz, funk, and folk music. He has commissioned, premiered, and recorded numerous concertos, sonatas, chamber works, and shorter pieces by composers such as Jennifer Higdon, Avner Dorman, David Osbon, Steven Sametz, and Denis DiBlasio.
In May, 2023, Schwarz released his most recent CD – The Living American – under the Albany Label. This CD looks at living American composers from a wide range of ethnic and musical backgrounds, and was awarded a $25,000 Catalyst Grant from Rowan University. In addition to the CD, it also includes videos of selected works.
Dr. Schwarz has collaborated in concert with a long list of iconic artists, including David Kim, Jonathan Carney, Kurt Nikkanen, Andrés Cárdenes, Juliette Kang, Roberto Díaz, Nokuthula Ngwenyama, Paul Coletti, Molly Carr, Sheila Browne, Andrés Díaz, Thomas Kraines, Norman Fischer, Sandra Rivers, Charles Abramovic, and members of the Juilliard, Guarneri, Orion, and American String Quartets.
An avid educator, Schwarz is currently Associate Professor and Head of Strings at Rowan University, Visiting Professor of Performance at the London College of Music, and Artistic Director and Founder of Techne Music, which includes a summer chamber music camp and concert series. In 2023 he served as Artist in Residence at the University of Macedonia in Greece. Before his appointment at Rowan University, Dr. Schwarz was Assistant Professor at Kutztown University, where he conducted the Kutztown University Orchestra and taught violin and viola.
For a five-year period through 2001, Schwarz served three tours as Artistic Ambassador in South America, Asia, and Africa, performing over 100 recitals in 15 countries. As part of winning the Starling Violin Competition, he studied with Dorothy DeLay at the Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music. He later received a MM from the Peabody Conservatory and a DMA from Temple University. He owns an extensive collection of fine violins, including a 1745 Carlo Antonio Testore, an 1830 Jean Baptiste Vuillaume and a 1921 Leandro Bisiach. For further information and a performance schedule, visit www.TimothySchwarz.com.
Revised September 2024
More Resources About Timothy Schwarz: