jared schwartz

American composer Jared Schwartz (he/they) writes operas that will leave you “completely hooked” (Copstick, Broadway Baby). His unconventional approach to modern opera is one of beauty and sophisticated accessibility.  A rare combination of both composer and librettist, Schwartz builds entire worlds in his musical universe, bringing complex and fascinating stories to audiences around the world.

During a trip to France in the summer of 2013, Schwartz was inspired to create a seven-episode operatic-television series, GERARD NOIR: THE WORLD’S SEXIEST SUPERSPY. Schwartz not only created the Gerard Noir universe, but also wrote the text and composed all the music for this satirical queering of the hyper-masculine James Bond spy trope.  After the success of its first professional workshop in January 2023, the first episode of GERARD NOIR debuted to rave reviews at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August 2023 with Schwartz singing the role of the non-binary narrator.  GERARD NOIR’s London debut is slated for 2025. For more information, visit www.GerardNoir.com. 

Dr. Alessandra Comini’s book, Schiele in Prison, became the inspiration for Jared’s next opera based on the painter, Egon Schiele, the only Austrian artist ever imprisoned for his art.  Schwartz traveled to Austria with Dr. Comini in June 2022 and spent the night in Schiele’s prison cell before completing this tragic and inspiring opera.  SCHIELE IN PRISON had its first professional workshop reading in January 2024. For more information, visit www.EgonSchieleOpera.com.

Schwartz is currently working on his next opera, a tragicomedy about his unfortunate experiences in conversion therapy. 

In addition to opera, Schwartz is also a prolific art song composer and musical theater song writer.  In 2011, he composed and produced, HOPE, a recording of his original pop songs performed with members of the Dallas and Fort Worth symphonies. He has written multiple song collections on the poetry of Rainer Maria Rilke, Mary Oliver, Chris Lloyd, and many other poets.  His collection of LGBTQ+ musical theater songs for teenagers, THE QUEER TEENAGE SONGBOOK, is slated for a 2024 release. 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. Schwartz is also currently writing instrumental commissions for the Euclid String Quartet and The Make Trio (piano-violin-clarinet).

Jared Schwartz 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 Georgian 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 with Rita Shane. 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 2013 he won the People’s Choice Award in the American Traditions Vocal Competition.

In 2015, his CD Gabriel Fauré: Songs for Bass Voice and Piano, recorded in collaboration with the famous Scottish musicologist/pianist Dr. Roy Howat, was produced by Toccata Classics (London) and debuted at #7 on the Billboard Traditional Classical chart. In 2016, he released Ange Flégier: Mélodies for Bass Voice and Piano, with Dr. Mary Dibbern, pianist and Music Director of Education at The Dallas Opera. In 2017 he released his fourth album, Franz Liszt: Songs for Bass Voice and Piano, with Dibbern again at the piano.  This album won multiple awards, including Best Lieder Album of the Year by Theatre Jones. His interest in concert songs has resulted in numerous recitals with Dr. Mary Dibbern in France, Austria and the US.

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). He also made his Haydn's CREATION debut in May 2016 singing both Gabriel and Adam.

Jared Schwartz 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 premiere of Heathers The Musical: High School Edition, Tuck Everlasting, The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical, Between The Lines, 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, baking something delicious or continuing his title of WORLD'S BEST UNCLE to his ten nieces and nephews.