Maestro Gerard Schwarz Conducts Kaleidoscope Concert Feb. 6 at UW

Maestro Gerard Schwarz and the University of Wyoming’s Collegiate Chorale, Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra will give a public performance at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6, in the Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts concert hall.

Tickets for the “Kaleidoscope Concert” cost $10 for the public and $7 for senior citizens and students. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the Fine Arts website at www.uwyo.edu/finearts or call (307) 766-6666. A reception in the concert hall lobby follows the concert.

As part of the UW Department of Music’s Eminent Musicians in Residence program, Schwarz will lead the first annual conducting symposium. The symposium -- Friday, Feb. 7, and Saturday, Feb. 8 -- will provide conductors the chance to work one on one with Schwarz, who will be on the podium with the UW Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band. UW’s wind, choral and orchestral conducting faculty also will provide clinic sessions throughout the weekend.

During his residency, Schwarz will be in various UW Department of Music master classes Tuesday, Feb. 4, through Friday, Feb. 7.

Schwarz is internationally recognized for his moving performances, innovative programming and extensive catalog of recordings. He serves as music director of the All-Star Orchestra and the Eastern Music Festival, as well as Conductor Laureate of the Seattle Symphony.

Schwarz’s latest project, the All-Star Orchestra, features a hand-picked ensemble of musicians from America’s leading orchestras coming together for an eight-episode American Public Television series designed to encourage a greater understanding and enjoyment of classical music.

His considerable discography -- of nearly 350 -- showcases his collaborations with some of the world’s greatest orchestras, including the Philadelphia Orchestra, Czech Philharmonic, London Symphony, Berlin Radio Symphony, Orchestre National de France, Tokyo Philharmonic, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, New York Chamber Symphony and Seattle Symphony.

Schwarz began his professional career as co-principal trumpet of the New York Philharmonic and has held leadership positions with Mostly Mozart Festival, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and the New York Chamber Symphony. As a guest conductor in both opera and symphonic repertoire, he has worked with many of the world’s leading orchestras and opera companies.

He is a renowned interpreter of 19th century German, Austrian and Russian repertoire, in addition to his noted work with contemporary American composers. Schwarz recently completed his final season -- his 26th -- as music director of the Seattle Symphony.

In his nearly five decades as a respected classical musician and conductor, Schwarz has received hundreds of honors and accolades, including Emmy Awards, Grammy nominations, American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers Awards and the Ditson Conductor’s Award.

He was the first American named Conductor of the Year by Musical America and has received numerous honorary doctorate degrees.