Dr Timothy Schwarz

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 CDs 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. 

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, President of the New Jersey chapter of the American String Teachers Association, and Artistic Director and Founder of Techne Music, which includes a summer chamber music camp and concert series. In 2023 he served as Visiting Professor of Performance at the London College of Music and 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. His violin, purchased in 2014, is a J. B. Vuillaume made in 1830, and his bow, purchased in 2019, is a Dominique Peccatte.