~ Bio ~

Music By the Master has been teaching, directing, coaching and composing for over 20 years. Gary began his love for music and interest in composition at an early age. By nine, he attempted to compose his first sonata. Later on, having excelled in performances at Peabody Conservatory through high school for state festivals and composing the interlude music for The Crucible, Gary pursued music composition in college. He soon landed a position for General Electric composing soundtracks for multi media presentations. His love for directing came when he landed the position of assistant musical director at Montgomery College for the opera Louise, and summer dinner theater; Damn Yankees and Pippin, where he filled in through synthesizers, playing with the orchestras.

Gary then soon began pursuing composing ballads and tecno, traveling back and forth to London in hopes of getting a record contract with EMI records, a difficult but exciting experience. Gary was able to meet and befriend Freddie Mercury and sit in on recording sessions with Queen, at Townhouse Studios in London. It was all very thrilling, but still difficult to obtain a record contract.

Gary then came back to the states and took a position directing choruses and composing more serious works. Conducting a local community chorus gave Gary the opportunity to began composing choral compositions. Works such as an antiphonal work, various choral compositions and eventually a full scale Requiem Mass such as his AIDS Requiem, which premiered at Bruton Parish, Williamsburg, and later at Hood College, Frederick and Gettysburg College in Gettysburg for a benefit for the NAMES Project.

Currently, Gary has been involved with local theaters as musical director as well as having been cast in several productions such as The Miracle Worker as Captain Keller. Gary has been musical director for such musicals as Snoopy and 42nd Street, Oklahoma and Aladdin.

Gary has also been a performer for the Maryland Renaissance Festival where he adopted the character of Master Thomas Tallis and composed 29 pieces for various characters and vendors throughout the festival including dedicating several to Revel Grove, the village where it all happens. Look for this to be out on CD soon. Gary resides in Frederick Maryland where he teaches private music; piano, harpsichord, voice and composition.

Music on this page is composed and copyrighted by Gary Schwartz, 2002, and may not be used without permission