Dr. Sergiu Schwartz

Sergiu Schwartz’s appearances in North America, Europe, Asia, and Israel have brought unanimous critical accolades and praise for his beauty of tone, brilliant technique, and an artistry of distinctive style and elegance. Comparing him to the greatest violinists, the Fanfare magazine writes: his "warmth of sound and insight into the music raise to the level of expression achieved by Oistrakh" and his" tonal sheen approaches Milstein's. For those who lament the passing of the great violinists of the last century, Schwartz's collection should provide a great sense of optimism that a younger violinist still commands such assured rhetoric and expressive resources. Heifetz, Milstein, Oistrakh, Isaac Stern, Francescatti - they all come to mind." The New York Times reviewed Mr. Schwartz’s sold-out New York recital at Carnegie’s Weill Recital Hall, as winner of the Artists International Competition, as “an impressive, authoritative and surging performance,” and wrote following his recital at the Tisch Center for the Arts of the 92nd Street Y: “What Sergiu Schwartz does with the violin is always accomplished: big, active, grand gestures of phrase, color with dark undertones, excellent agility.” Sergiu Schwartz is “the consummate heroic figure possessed of a lion’s share of talent, commanding stage presence and abundant technique,” wrote the Los Angeles Times. The Chicago Tribune noted that “he possesses a sweet tone, an instinctively dramatic way with a phrase and an ability to make every note count.” “He stands out as one of the best violinists of his generation,” says Le Soleil (Quebec City, Canada); while Sächsische Zeitung (Dresden, Germany) praises his “exquisitely expressive tone, unheard since Oistrakh.” The Washington Post notes his “big, rich tone, fine variety of colors and acute sense of style and form,” while New York’s Newsday states, “Following in the footsteps of his fellow countrymen Itzhak Perlman and Pinchas Zukerman, he is a product of the best of European romantic interpretative style and 20th-Century American technical acuity.”

Performances

Mr. Schwartz’s active international career has taken him to major music centers over four continents, in twenty European countries and over forty U.S. states, as soloist with leading orchestras, in recitals and chamber music concerts. He has collaborated with preeminent fellow musicians, including conductors Sergiu Comissiona, James Judd, Mehli Mehta, Peter Maag, Giuseppe Sinopoli, Bruno Weil, Antoni Wit; pianists Peter Frankl, Konstantin Lifshitz, Radu Lupu; and cellists Colin Carr, Jeffrey Solow and Steven Isserlis, among many other distinguished artists. Highlights of recent seasons have included solo orchestral engagements with the Dresden Staatskapelle, Dresden Philharmonic, Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, Florida Philharmonic, Slovak Philharmonic, Sarajevo Philharmonic, National Symphony Orchestra of Mexico, Bern Symphony, Berlin-Mecklenburg Symphony, Hungarian Chamber Orchestra, Polish National Radio and TV Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra of Mexico, Orchestra of St.Luke’s (at New York’s Lincoln Center), Chicago’s Grant Park Festival Orchestra, Symphony of the Americas, Denver Chamber Orchestra, American Youth Symphony (special Gala Concert), among numerous other distinguished symphony and chamber orchestras in the United States and worldwide. As a recitalist, his performances have included five sold-out New York concerts at 92nd Street Y, Carnegie’s Weill Recital Hall and Merkin Hall; Kennedy Center and the Library of Congress (Washington, DC); UCLA and L’Ermitage (Los Angeles); Dame Myra Hess concert series (Chicago), Bargemusic (New York); the Canadian Institute and the Montreal Museum for the Fine Arts (Canada); and Academia Santa Cecilia (Rome), amongst many others. A frequent guest in London’s concert halls, Mr. Schwartz performed several recitals at Wigmore Hall, where he made his London debut in the “Outstanding Israeli Artists” series; appeared as a soloist with the London Symphony Orchestra at Barbican Hall and the London Soloists Chamber Orchestra at Queen Elizabeth Hall; and performed in live broadcast recitals for the BBC, including the world broadcast premiere of the violin concerto by S. Coleridge-Taylor.


As a performer and pedagogue, Mr. Schwartz is a frequent guest at national international music festivals, including Bowdoin, Summit, Newport, Interlochen, Aspen, South Shore, Utah, Amherst, Luzerne, Festival Miami (US), Interlaken and Tibor Varga (Switzerland), Kuhmo (Finland), Prusia Cove (England), La Gesse (France), Soesterberg (Holland), Brasov (Romania), Sofia and Plovdiv (Bulgaria), Israel Summer Festival and Keshet Eilon (Israel).

During recent years, Sergiu Schwartz has added the role of conductor to his artistic endeavors. He has appeared both as a conductor and violin soloist with the European Community Chamber Orchestra (on tour in the United Sates), Concentus Hungaricus (Budapest), London Soloists Chamber Orchestra (London, Switzerland and Italy), Rheinland-Pfalz Orchestra (Germany), Israel’s Atlas Camerata (on tour in the United States), Sarajevo Philharmonic (Bosnia and France), Harid Chamber Strings, Lynn University Philharmonia, Lynn University Chamber Orchestra, Virtuosi Camerata, and the Renaissance Chamber Ensemble. He served as music director and principal guest conductor of the Ashdod Israel Chamber Orchestra and International Master Players Orchestra.

Recordings

Mr. Schwartz made his recording debut with the London Symphony Orchestra with an “all Scandinavian” compact disc released on Vox Unique (reissued on Vox Allegretto), featuring music by Sibelius, Svendsen, and Grieg. Mr. Schwartz’s "The Romantic Violin" recording, including works by Franck, Brahms, Paganini, Rachmaninoff, Kreisler and Gershwin, has been released to exceptional critical acclaim on Gega-New, has been a bestseller and has been recently reissued. His recent release on Naxos "American Classics, featuring works by American composer John Alden Carpenter has been received enthusiastically reviewed. His latest releases include “The Heart of the Violin” (2006), featuring works by Beethoven, Bloch, Tchaikovsky, Elgar, Sarasate, Kreisler, and "Poème Mystique" (2003) presenting works by Bloch, Zemlinsky, Prokofiev, Smetana and Suk. A new CD collection, "Romantic Treasures", featuring works by Strauss, Saint-Saens, Debussy and Dvorak, is due for release on Romeo Records, fall 2008. His releases through EMS Records are available on Arcobaleno (Sonatas Concertantes for violin and harp by Ludwig Spohr). "Moods," a CD released by the Israel Music Society, features Mr. Schwartz performing contemporary solo and chamber music works from live concerts in New York. Mr. Schwartz's recordings are also available on CRS Records - chamber works by Milhaud and Khachaturian; and on Nonesuch - music by American composer Philip Glass for “Powaqqatsi” and “The Thin Blue Line,” as well as sitar Ravi Shankar's albums “Passages” and “Bridges.” His commercially released video recording Music of the French Masters (Classical Arts Presentations) features live performances of the Franck and Debussy violin sonatas at Pepperdine University (California) in a program introduced by celebrated violinist Henri Temianka.

Education

Sergiu Schwartz studied with Rami Shevelov at the Rubin Academy of Music in Tel Aviv, Israel, where he gained exposure to artists such as Isaac Stern and Yehudi Menuhin during master classes at the Jerusalem Music Center. He continued his studies under a DAAD scholarship at the Hochschule fur Musik in Hanover (Germany) and, then, under a British Council grant, with Yfrah Neaman at the Guildhall School in London, where he was awarded the “Premier Prix” Artist Diploma for Advanced Solo Studies. Mr. Schwartz received scholarships from the America-Israel Cultural Foundation and The Juilliard School in New York to study with Dorothy DeLay. His musical growth was further enhanced by violinists Sandor Vegh and Felix Galimir, and pianist Leon Fleisher. He was awarded a special diploma from the Guttenberg University in Mainz, Germany, upon completion of his studies in Music Phenomenology with legendary conductor Sergiu Celibidache. He has also participated in conducting seminars and workshops given by Leonard Bernstein, Eric Leinsdorf and Daniel Barenboim.

Teaching Experience

Sergiu Schwartz combines his performing activities with his position as Professor of Violin holding the William B. and Sue Marie Turner Distinguished Faculty Chair in Violin at the Schwob School of Music, Columbus State University. Before his appointment to the Schwob School of Music, Mr. Schwartz served as Professor of Violin at Lynn University Conservatory of Music, Harid Conservatory, and as a visiting artist at Florida International University in Miami. He also held teaching positions in London (Pimlico School and the Wells Cathedral School, affiliated with the Yehudi Menuhin School); and in New York (Kaufman Center for the Arts). His students have won prizes in prestigious competitions, including Paganini (both Italy and Russia), Pablo Sarasate (Spain), Henryk Szeryng (Mexico) and David Oistrakh (Ukraine) International Violin Competitions; Prix d'Europe Music Competition (Canada); and the Carmel and Coleman Chamber Music Competitions (California). Mr. Schwartz also serves on the distinguished artist faculty of the Bowdoin and Summit international summer music festivals. He regularly conducts master classes and lectures at music schools, colleges, and universities worldwide, including Interlochen (MI) and Idyllwild (CA) Arts Academies, UCLA, R. D. Colburn School for the Performing Arts, and the San Francisco Conservatory (CA), Eastman School of Music (NY), Oberlin Conservatory (OH), LaGuardia School for the Performing Arts (New York City), Jerusalem Rubin Academy of Music (Israel), Reina Sofia Academy (Madrid), Franz Liszt Academy (Budapest), Royal Academy of Music (London), Mount Royal College (Calgary, Canada), Shanghai Conservatory (China), Beijing Central Conservatory (China), Korea National University of Arts (Seoul, Korea), as well as master courses in Finland, France, Italy, Switzerland, Holland, Bosnia, Romania, and Bulgaria.

Judging in National and International Music Competitions Sergiu Schwartz has served as juror at major international violin competitions including Tchaikovsky, (Moscow, 2007, 2002), Pablo Sarasate (Spain, 2009, 2001), Henryk Szeryng (Mexico, 2003, 2000), Wieniawski (Poland, 2006, 2003), David Oistrakh (Ukraine, 2006), Novosibirsk (Russia, 2004), Canadian National Music Competition (Calgary, 2003), Andrea Postacchini (Italy 2008 - President of the Jury), Città di Andria (Italy, 1999); Sphinx Competition (Detroit, 2006, 2003), Blount-Slawson (2007) and Stulberg competitions in the United States. He served as artistic director of the 2003 Strad Violin Competition (Boca Raton, Florida), and coordinated the National Society of Arts and Letters Violin Competitions in South Florida.

Recognition and Awards

Sergiu Schwartz has been appointed an honorary supporter of the Sarajevo Philharmonic (along with Zubin Mehta and the late Yehudi Menuhin) and has been featured on a CNN documentary about the orchestra in the wake of years of civil war. Mr. Schwartz is on the Advisory Board of the George Enescu Society of the United States, has received awards from the Jewish Arts Foundation, and the National Foundation for the Advancements of the Arts, and has been honored for outstanding achievement with a full-length life history in prestigious professional international directories, such as Who's Who in America, International Who’s Who in Music and Musicians, International Who’s Who in Classical Music, Outstanding People of the 20th Century and 2000 Outstanding Musicians of the 20th Century (Cambridge, England). Mr. Schwartz’s awards also include a National Endowment for the Arts Solo Fellowship and major prizes in international violin competitions in England, Switzerland, Chile, and the United States.

Reviews

"Heart of the Violin” CD (Romeo Records)
"Sergiu Schwartz's large-scale violin playing made a deep impression ... he plays with a glowing tone, a sense of the bigness of the music he plays, even when he essays miniatures, and a stunning technique. He draws a large, nuanced sound on his Sanctus Seraphin violin, perfectly calibrated to the Romantic miniatures he's chosen for his recital on Romeo, and apt as well for the longer works that come at the end of the CD. But Schwartz draws the listener in with insinuating performances of Elgar's familiar Salut d'Amour and Massenet's Meditation ... Sarasate's Introduction and Tarantelle was a Milstein showpiece, but Schwartz's pose has the same aristocratic bearing and virtuoso excitement as had the Master's. The same true of Heifetz's chestnut, almost signature piece, Ponce's Estrelita. Heifetz soared in this piece, but so does Schwartz. His portamentos, chaste as those of the Violinist of the Century, add a touch of excitement when he reaches into the upper registers. And his dynamic control enables him to "belt" this song very nearly with Heifetz's authority ... He is capable of creating both the momentary pleasures, both tonal and technical, and the overall sense of mastery that characterized their [Heifetz's and Milstein's] artistry ... The familiar Nigun almost leaps off the disc, so intense do its soaring passages grow at its climax - and Simchat Torah reaches the same expressive heights ... Throughout the [Beethoven's Fifth Violin] Sonata, he plays with great ingenuity, his searching musicianship dictating nuances that impel the music dramatically forward. And that propulsion lasts from the first to the last, with a finale that explodes with energy. His playing throughout the piece recalls Francescatti's intensity in Beethoven Sonatas ... Schwartz's playing and [pianist Tao] Lin's ability to match its grandeur provides all the excitement anyone could want. For those who lament the passing of the great violinists of the last century, Schwartz's collection should provide a great sense of optimism that a younger violinist still commands such assured rhetoric and expressive resources. Heifetz, Milstein, Oistrakh, Isaac Stern, Francescatti - they all come to mind. Urgently recommended to all kinds of listeners, but especially to the disheartened."
Robert Maxham, FANFARE - The Magazine for Serious Record Collectors (2007)

"Sergiu Schwartz is a wonderful violinist who reminds me of Itzhak Perlman. He has a rich singing sound and a bold approach to the violin, giving it an almost baritone vocal quality. The title of the release, The Heart of the Violin, is quite appropriate. He fills every note with love."
Fine, American Record Guide (2006)

"Violinist and pianist display a fine command of the lyrical line. Schwartz possesses a captivating ability for the long vocal line – a mental rather than technical ability fewer violinists display these days. Rather than casting off most of this disc as light encores, Schwartz gives a committed performance. He offers a committed performances of Elgar’s Salut d'Amour, a noble rendition of the Méditation from Massenet’s Thaïs, and a passionate interpretation of Tchaikovsky’s Valse sentimentale. With deft use of rubato and legato, he smoothly pulls forth themes like a ball of string slowly unraveling: in Ambrosio’s Canzonetta and Tchaikovsky’s Melodie, for example. Schwartz truly has an ear for lyric phrasing and Lin matches him at every turn… Sarasate’s Introduction and Tarantella and Tchaikovsky’s Scherzo … passionate readings His interpretation of Bloch’s Baal Shem Suite is tender –again full of song.”
Andrew Druckenbrod, The Gramophone

"Poème Mystique" CD (Romeo Records)
"Sergiu Schwartz possesses not only a large, rich tone and fluent technique, but also a striking musical and physical presence…His selection of repertoire for Romeo accentuates his musical and technical command over Romantic repertoire that requires committed, almost knightly, championship… Schwartz's razor-sharp technique enables him to bring [to the work, Poème Mystique] the dignity that Bloch preferred to the popular klezmer approach to his works…the sheer luster of his tone makes [Smetana's From My Native Land] glow… [In Prokofiev's Five Melodies] Schwartz compounds his ardor with a warmth of sound and an insight into the pieces' idiolect that raises them to the level of expression achieved by Oistrakh.… He brings a gemutlich charm to [Suk's Burleska…Schwartz's prepossessing tonal sheen, which at times approaches Milstein's…For its combination of slightly unusual repertoire and deep musical penetration, Schwartz's and [pianist] Chien's program should make friends both for the music and for the artists among those not well acquainted with them. Recommended.
Robert Maxham, Fanfare

"[Schwartz] sounds like a very stylish artist with a very attractive tone and fine sense of drama…[He] has an obvious affinity for this work [Ernest Bloch's Sonata No. 2 Poème Mystique]… Anyone serious about Bloch can't afford to pass it up."
Magil, American Record Guide

“In his previous recitals, the impressively gifted Rumanian-born violinist, Sergiu Schwartz has more oft than not impressed with innovative repertory; fiery, communicative interpretations… On this superb CD anthology, the music is characteristically well chosen for its catholicity, superbly well balanced and lifelike sound, and is played to the hilt by Schwartz and his potent pianistic colleague, Alec Chien…The [Prokofiev] Melodies, which I cherish in one of Szigeti’s best late LP recordings compares favorably in this Schwartz/Chien version. No higher praise can be given… These fine Schwartz/Chien performances of the Un poco triste and the Burlesca [by Josef Suk] complete this highly recommended CD."
Harris Goldsmith, New York Concert Review

"The Romantic Violin" CD (Gega-New)
"Prodigious talent, excellent technique, formidable musical insight…His Brahms D minor Sonata is a top-notch achievement wherein the sense of lyrically infused and dramatic valediction and nostalgia is born at the most charged and mature exponency imaginable…a mix of determination and exquisite linear beauty…I have never heard the opening idea of the Franck Sonata dispatched with such blith mellifluousness…sweep and fierce determination…Kreisler's Liebesleid is entirely irresistible…lavishly stocked disc."
Jeffrey Joseph, The Strad

"John Alden Carpenter" CD (Naxos "American Classics")
"The Naxos recording is forthright, resonant and offers a grand vision and maintains its power without flagging. Sergiu Schwartz and Paul Posnak are such engaging performers and play so well together that one is simply bowled over... this is harmonically imaginative stuff."
Roderic Dunnett, The Strad

"In this writer's view, Schwartz is the most satisfying violinist since attending Itzhak Perlman's concerts ... His appearance exuded confidence and mastery ... his vivacious interpretation of the beautiful first theme made the difficult passages look like child's play ... he showed that his skill in emotional expression was equal to his masterful technical virtuosity ... he played with the passion of a gypsy fiddler combined with aplomb of a classical virtuoso ... his bravura violin performance wowed the audience, as his physical demeanor exuded poetry in motion ... he burst into a blizzard of wonderful sound and excitement to end an amazing recital."
Sandy Cooperman, The Sunday Sun

"Mr. Schwartz, having joined the program at the last minute to replace Anne Akiko Meyers, did a fine job in the [Bartok's] Rhapsody. He played the violin line with a biting edge that evoked the music's rustic roots, and he resisted the temptation to prettify it, trusting instead in the music's raw, emotional power."
Allan Kozinn, The New York Times

“Violinist Sergiu Schwartz played Bartok's Rhapsody No.1 with the New York Virtuosi in Hunter College's Kaye Playhouse (13 June), substituting for Anne Akiko Meyers at the last minute. His tonal warmth and authentic style lent distinction to this all Bartok programme."
Dennis Rooney, The Strad

"What Sergiu Schwartz does with the violin is always accomplished: big, active tone, grand gestures of phrase, color with dark undertones, excellent agility."
Bernard Holland, The New York Times

"...a warm, hearty account of the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto, with Sergiu Schwartz, an Israeli violinist who focused on the work's drama and drive without sacrificing its elegance."
Allan Kozinn, The New York Times

"His big, rich tone shades down to a whisper when the music requires it and takes on a fine variety of colors according to the mood of the moment. He has an exquisitely accurate left hand and acute sense of style and form." Joseph McLellan, The Washington Post

"Israeli Sergiu Schwartz opened the evening with Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto, with exquisitely expressive tone, unheard since Oistrakh ... impeccable intonation and secure fingerwork ... an impressive all around performance." Sachsische Zeitung, Germany

"Schwartz is the consummate heroic figure ... possessed of a lion's share of talent, commanding stage presence and abundant technique."
Susan Bliss, Los Angeles Times

"Schwartz has a splendid technique and a gift for song, and both were put to the best possible use."
Robert C. Marsh, Chicago Sun Times

"Final evening concert was brilliant ... Listening to Schwartz, you knew immediately that you were in the presence of greatness."
Bob Feldheim, The St. Augustine Record (2007)

"Schwartz gave the singing score effective breadth…beautifully focused tone."
James Roos, The Miami Herald (2001)

"Schwartz combined masterful bowing with an effortless left hand and stirring musical maturity. Following in the footsteps of his fellow countrymen Itzhak Perlman and Pinchas Zukerman, he is a product of the best of European romantic interpretative style and 20th Century American technical acuity."
Randy Banner, Newsday, New York

"Impressive, authoritative and surging performance."
John Rockwell, The New York Times

"The concert was a fascinating program of less familiar music, played with rewarding musicality ... Schwartz draws a wide variety of tone from his violin, and phrases with distinction .... Schwartz's rich tone added to this memorable performance."
Mark Kanny, Pittsburgh Post Gazette

"The evening's soloist was Sergiu Schwartz, a first class Israeli violinist reminiscent of Shlomo Mintz in more ways than one. Like Mintz, Schwartz possesses a sweet tone, an instinctively dramatic way with a phrase and an ability to make every note count. If his vibrato is still more generous than Mintz's, consider this his way of italicizing a point."
Howard Reich, Chicago Tribune

"Israeli violinist Sergiu Schwartz brought an abundance of nuance and warm tone, gilding through the melodic passages with breathtaking control. Schwartz mesmerized, capturing the right amount of brilliance and elegance."
Gregg Wagner, Los Angeles Times

"Unashamed showman…charisma on stage…Bruch's First Violin Concerto was a good choice for Schwartz. His varied tonal palette was used to good effect, especially in the first movement, while his passionate playing in the Adagio showed an intensity which was reminiscent of an older school of violin playing."
Juliette Barber, The Strad

"Mr. Schwartz's style is truly romantic, without sentimentality or excess; his tone is dark, warm, and beautiful."
Edith Eisler, Strings

"Violinist Sergiu Schwartz and pianist Lory Wallfisch showed themselves to be poetic, sensitive artists at their Weill Hall recital... Everything sounded exceptionally alive, with details of rhythm, accent, colour and style evoking the unexpected but without departing from tasteful musical decorum. It was a very special afternoon."
Harris Goldsmith, The Strad

"Beauty of tone can go a long way in a violin recital, and for some violinists it is an end in itself. But Sergiu Schwartz, an Israeli violinist, seems to know how to put his tone to fully expressive use. He produced an exquisitely warm, seductive as rich, focused violin sound in a program of Romantic works at Weill Recital Hall."
Allan Kozinn, The New York Times

"Virtuosismo … The works presented complemented the virtuosity of an exceptional concert violinist, his lush sound and impeccable technique.” Joseba Lobera, El Correo, Spain

"The soloist in last night's performance of the Mendelssohn Concerto, Israeli violinist Sergiu Schwartz, is among the brightest of his generation. His playing was spellbinding in its gorgeous tone color and lyrical phrasing. In regard to his technical prowess, Schwartz played with absolute precision, confidence and command, as exhibited, especially, in his surging and radiant account of the concerto's final movement."
David Lasky, Sunday Telegram, Worcester, Massachusetts

"An exceptionally talented Israeli violinist, Sergiu Schwartz was heard in an exquisitely beautiful performance of Vivaldi's 'Four Seasons.' This young virtuoso deserves to become a star, as attested by his numerous successes abroad. He plays with great assurance and authority, with an impeccable left hand and bow technique, and a superb countenance; we await impatiently a new appearance."
Edgar Feder, France Amerique, New York

"Schwartz demonstrated his exquisite interpretative qualities in this majestic performance of Mozart's Violin Concerto [KV 219]
El Sol de Toluca, Mexico

"In North American Debut Young Violinist Tops Scale ... Good violinists are rare at the best of times and those as good as Schwartz are as scarce as hen's teeth."
The Gazette, Montreal

'The impressive Israeli soloist brought to each work a confident sense of style and masterful technique."
Daily Telegraph, London

"Schwartz's clean authority and warmth were as appealing as his precisely imagined colour contrasts...Like Schwartz himself, the Sonata [Enescu's Second Sonata, Op.6] was eminently worth hearing."
Financial Times, London

"Sergiu Schwartz brought an unmistakably personal style to Bruch's Violin Concerto No. 1, through his powerful and convincing interpretation, beautiful sound, flowing line of expression, and particular care for the detail."
Der Bund, Switzerland

"Technical perfection and an unbelievable feeling for the expressive power of the composer are special marks of this artist."
Rhein Zeitung, Germany

'The young soloist from Tel Aviv proved his international class in this first appearance in Germany. His performance, without unnecessary show, confirmed his exceptional qualities: brilliant technique, colorful handling of the sound and expressive phrasing turned this well known concerto [Mendelssohn, E minor into a memorable experience."
Algemeine Zeitung, Germany

"His sonority is rich and warm, he has a strong personality, an inborn musicianship, and, of course, an absolutely secure technique ... he stands out as one of the best violinists of his generation."
Le Soleil, Canada

"The violinist's phrasing, always Schwartz's strongest suit, was especially thoughtful and communicative ... Schwartz found the traces of Mozartean elegance in the music, shaping the slow movement with deep sensitivity and articulating the concluding rondo with an amiable touch."
Tim Smith, Sun Sentinel, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida

"Schwartz has the style and technique of a true virtuoso. There is fire and feeling in everything he plays, as well as commanding vision of what each piece is about."
Tim Smith, Sun Sentinel, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida

Sergiu Schwartz's recital was one of those amazingly satisfying evenings that comes my way only a few times a season ... True, Perlman and Zukerman might for the moment outplay Schwartz; in recent years, however I have heard neither superstar give so generously of himself as Schwartz did with this program."
Wes Bloomster, Daily Camera, Boulder, Colorado

"Exceptional tonal quality and an innate talent for expressiveness."
The Strad

'This young virtuoso has all the qualities desirable for a great career: sound, technique and personality."
Journal de Toulouse, France

"Sergiu Schwartz, a conductor and violinist of exceptional talent."
Ouest France, France

Highlights of Prof. Schwartz's Violin Students Achievements Prizes, Awards, Honors in National and International Competitions

Second Prize and Audience Prize Sarasate International Violin Competition, Spain (2007)
Silver Medal Paganini International Violin Competition, Moscow, Russia (2006)
Special Jury Prize, David Oistrakh International Violin Competition, Ukraine (2006)
First Prize, MTNA National Finals, Denver (2008) and Seattle (2005)
Winner William C. Byrd International Young Artist Competition for Strings, Michigan (2004)
Winner and Gold Medalist Henryk Szeryng International Violin Competition, Mexico (2003)
Top prize Paganini International Violin Competition, Italy (1998)
Top prizes Pablo Sarasate International Violin Competition, Spain (2001, 1997)
Winner Sphinx Competition, Detroit, Michigan (2002)
Winner MTNA National Finals String Division, Seattle, WA (2005)
Top prize Blount Young Artist Competition (2006)
Winner Aspen Music Festival Concerto Competition (1999)
Winner Juilliard School Concerto Competition (2001)
Winners Musicorda Festival Concerto Competition (2002, 2001, 2000)
First Prize Città di Andria International Violin Competition, Italy (1998)
Winner Prix d'Europe Music Competition, Montreal, Canada (1997)
Four out of the six top prizes Bordeaux (Evian) International String Quartet Competition, France (1999)
First Prize Coleman Chamber Ensemble Competition, CA (1998)
First Prize Carmel Chamber Music Competition, CA (1998)

Students' Fellowships and Scholarships at Music Festivals, Seminars, Workshops

Aspen (CO), Tanglewood (MA), Bowdoin (ME), Musicorda (MA), Blossom (OH), Encore (OH) Meadowmount (NY), Academy of the West (CA), Bowdoin (ME), Eastern (MA), Banff (Canada), Verbier (Switzerland), Keshet Eilon (Israel), New York String Orchestra Seminar, Isaac Stern Chamber Music Workshop at Carnegie Hall

Students accepted on scholarship for graduate studies at Juilliard School, Curtis Institute, Manhattan School of Music, Mannes College, Eastman School of Music, Cleveland Institute of Music, Cincinnati College - Conservatory of Music, New England Conservatory, Boston University, Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, Carnegie-Mellon University

Alumni Employment
Full-time orchestra members of Pittsburgh, Detroit, St. Louis, Houston, Montreal Toronto, Rochester, New York Metropolitan Opera, New World symphony orchestras
Leaders chamber ensembles: Amernet, Vega, Vols, Borealis string quartets
Teaching positions at San Francisco State University, Emory University (Atlanta), Northern Kentucky University, Florida International University (Miami), University of British Columbia (Vancouver)

Student Performances

As Soloists
with National Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony, Boston Pops, Atlanta Symphony, Detroit Symphony, Rochester Philharmonic, Annapolis Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony, St. Louis Symphony, Memphis Symphony, Seattle Symphony, Charleston Symphony, Redlands Symphony, Juilliard Orchestra at Lincoln Center, Sphinx Symphony at Carnegie Hall, Florida Philharmonic, New World Symphony; Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Jerusalem Symphony, Israel Chamber Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra of Mexico, Russian State Symphony, Sofia Philharmonic, I Musici, Ottawa Symphony, Victoria Symphony

In Recital
at Lincoln Center (Mostly Mozart Festival), Carnegie Hall, Kravis and Broward Centers for the Performing Arts (South Florida), Festival Miami, professional concert series in Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Baltimore, St. Louis, South Florida; on tour in Japan, Israel, Romania, Bulgaria, Brazil, Norway, Switzerland, Canada, Germany, Austria, Italy, France, England, Taiwan

Broadcasts
on NPR (live form Aspen Music Festival and "From the Top"), WQXR (New York), WAMC (Albany), WQED (Pittsburgh), WXEL, WLRN, WTMI (South Florida), as well as on classical stations in Canada, Israel, Bulgaria, Romania, Russia, France, China, Germany; TV appearances on ABC, CBS, FOX, WXEL

Student Recordings
Naxos (US), Gega (Bulgaria), Yin-Xiang Records (China), Yu-Guo Records (Hong-Kong), XXI Classic, Skylark Records (Canada)