Francis Schwartz

Francis Schwartz was born in the United States in 1940 and grew up in Texas where he studied with the eminent pianist Patricio Gutierrez. He received both B.S. and M.S degrees from Juilliard School in New York City and subsequently was awarded a Ph.D. with highest honors from the University of Paris.

Dr. Schwartz was Dean of Humanities of the University of Puerto Rico where he also held major academic and administrative positions during his 33 year career at the prestigious Caribbean institution. He was decorated by the French government and awarded the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et Lettres. His music is regularly performed around the world and he is particularly noted for his innovative music theater works that frequently incorporate the attending public as active participants in the performance.

His polyartistic creation “Mon Oeuf”, a miniature theater-sculpture with electronic sounds, aromas, temperature manipulations and tactile stimulations was premiered in 1979 at the Pompidou Center and later installed at the Museum of Modern Art in Paris. “Mon Oeuf” has been hailed as a daring achievement in contemporary art. His chamber opera “DALI and GALA” was premiered in 2004 at the Salvador Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Schwartz has written works for some of the world’s outstanding artists and ensembles such as Andres Segovia, Gary Karr, Pierre-Yves Artaud, Thomas Bacon, Henri Bok, Continuum, Jay Hunsberger, The New Juilliard Ensemble, Arioso Trio, 2E2M of Paris, LIM de Madrid, Casals Festival, Saint Louis Brass Quintet, Brooklyn Philharmonic, Sybarite5 among many others. He currently pursues an international career while residing in Sarasota, Florida.

In 2011 premiered his “Antigone’s Dream” in Paris with the French Flute Orchestra and Pierre-Yves Artaud as soloist. In the same year, Schwartz presented 12 of his compositions in the CLAEM Festival in Buenos Aires at the Jorge Luis Borges Cultural Center. During 2012, Schwartz premiered “Cooking at the Crossroads with Pauline & John” an homage to Pauline Oliveros and John Cage. Schwartz’s work for the Sybarite5 ensemble was premiered at New York’s Carnegie Hall (Zankel). His works have been played frequently in festivals and concerts in Europe and the Americas.

Featured in Meet our Artists #1: Ardovino, Schwartz, Horne

Compositions