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Jared Schwartz

Jared Schwartz (he/they) was born in Berne, Indiana where he began piano lessons at the age of three, violin at seven, and French horn at ten. He continued piano study with Dr. Masson Robertson of Indiana University-Purdue University and twice won the Frederic Chopin Award (1998, 2000). During high school, he sang leading roles in How to Succeed in Business…, Annie Get Your Gun, Oklahoma, The Sound of Music, Oliver, and The Music Man. He began courses for a double major in pre-med and music at Bethel College (IN), continuing advanced piano study with the Russian master Alexander Toradze. After a wrist injury, he began voice lessons with Victoria Garrett, then was awarded the Arthur Assum Scholarship to attend the Eastman School of Music (NY), where he earned a graduate degree in Voice. He performed solo roles with the Eastman Opera Theatre in East and West, La Rondine, Claudia Legare, and Rigoletto.

Since 2007, Schwartz has continued vocal studies with David Jones (NY). Between 2008 and 2013, he participated in masterclasses at the Franz Schubert Institute (Baden-bei-Wien) with Elly Ameling, Wolfram Reiger, Wolfgang Holzmaier, Rudolf Jansen, Julius Drake, and in the US with Jory Vinkour and Michael Pinkerton. In 2011, he composed and produced, HOPE, a recording of his original songs performed with members of the Dallas and Fort Worth symphonies. In 2013 he won the People’s Choice Award in the American Traditions Vocal Competition.

During a trip to France in the summer of 2013, Schwartz began creating his first opera series, Gerard Noir: the World's Sexiest Super Spy. Schwartz not only created the Gerard Noir universe, but also wrote the text and composed all the music for this fantastic, randy adventure-comedy.  After the success of his first professional workshop for episode one in January 2023, the first episode of GERARD NOIR will now debut at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August 2023.  For more information, visit www.GerardNoir.com. In addition to his comic spy opera series, Schwartz is currently writing a serious opera on an important 20th century painter slated for 2024 premier.

Outside of opera, Schwartz is also a prolific art song composer and musical theater song writer.  He has written multiple song collections on the poetry of Maria Rainer Rilke, Mary Oliver, and many other poets.  His collection of LGBTQ+ musical theater songs for teenagers, THE LGBTQ TEENAGE SONGBOOK, is slated for 2023 release. As a gay man, he hopes these songs about the teenage queer experience will give voice to all the young people who live life outside of the hetero-normative musical theater canon.

As a singer, Jared Schwartz’s recent orchestral engagements have included the bass solos in Verdi’s Requiem (Festival Como Cittá della Musica and also with the New Jersey Choral Society), Handel’s Messiah (Fort Worth Symphony), and Fauré’s Requiem (St. Matthew’s Cathedral, Dallas).

In 2015, his CD Gabriel Fauré: Songs for Bass Voice and Piano, recorded with the famous Scottish musicologist Roy Howat, was produced by Toccata Classics (London) and debuted at #7 on the Billboard Traditional Classical chart. His interest in concert songs has resulted in numerous recitals in France, Austria and the US, where he collaborates often with pianist Mary Dibbern, Music Director of Education at The Dallas Opera.

In 2016, he released Ange Flégier: Mélodies for Bass Voice and Piano, with Mary Dibbern, pianist, as well performing in various recitals, including the Winnsboro Classical Series. He also made his Haydn's CREATION debut in May, singing both Gabriel and Adam.

In 2017 he released his fourth album, Franz Liszt: Songs for Bass Voice and Piano, with Mary Dibbern, pianist.  This album won multiple awards, including Best Lieder Album of the Year by Theatre Jones. 

Jared Schwartz also teaches private voice lessons and was chosen by the National Association of Teachers of Singing as one of the outstanding young American voice teachers. He also music directed the world premier of HEATHERS THE MUSICAL: HIGH SCHOOL EDITION, TUCK EVERLASTING, PERCY JACKSON: THE LIGHTNING THIEF and MEAN GIRLS: HIGH SCHOOL EDITION at JJ Pearce High School.  His productions are frequently chosen for the Texas State and International Thespians Conventions.  The high school cast of HEATHERS was also chosen by iTheatrics to record the cast album, due to their powerful musical performances.

Outside of music, you might find Jared swimming in a pool, eating something delicious or continuing his title of WORLD'S BEST UNCLE to his ten nieces and nephews.