Aaron Schwartz

Aaron Schwartz is a versatile violinist and passionate educator with a broad performance career that spans across symphonic, chamber, and solo settings. Currently serving as the Assistant Concertmaster of the LaCrosse Symphony Orchestra and Concertmaster of Opera Project Columbus, Aaron is an accomplished performer known for his expressive and dynamic playing.

As a chamber musician, Aaron is a founding member of the KASA Quartet and an Associated Faculty member at the Chamber Music Connection in Worthington, OH. His chamber music performances have taken him to prestigious venues and festivals, including the Ravinia Music Festival, Maverick Concerts, Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Austin Chamber Music Center, and the Caroga Lake Music Festival, where he has worked with world-class musicians such as Eddie Barbash, ETHEL, Cavani Quartet, and members of the Ritz Chamber Players.

In addition to his orchestral and chamber music work, Aaron has an active solo career, with notable performances such as Antonio Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons and Astor Piazzolla’s Cuatro Estaciones Porteñas with the LaCrosse Symphony Orchestra, Chausson’s Concerto for Violin and Piano Quintet at Maverick Concerts, and Ludwig W. Maurer’s Concertante for Four Violins with the Caroga Lake Music Festival.

Dedicated to inspiring the next generation of musicians, Aaron is also an active educator, having taught and held master classes at various institutions, including Dennison University, Ohio State University, University of Illinois, Nyon Conservatory of Music, Austin Chamber Music Center, and the Chamber Music Connection. His teaching philosophy is rooted in fostering knowledge and proficiency in cross-genre styles with artistic expression being the primary drive for improvement, encouraging students to develop their own unique musical voices.

Aaron holds an Advanced Musical Studies Certificate and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Violin Performance from Carnegie Mellon University, where he studied under renowned violinist Andrés Cárdenes. He currently plays with a French-Canadian bow crafted by Richard Compartino, generously on loan from Deborah Price.

Artist Statement

As a violinist and arranger, my work bridges the rich traditions of classical music and the vibrant spontaneity of jazz. Inspired by the virtuosity of 20th-century violinists like Jascha Heifetz and Michael Rabin, alongside the improvisational genius of Stéphane Grappelli and Oscar Peterson, I strive to create performances and arrangements that resonate with both innovation and timeless artistry.

In my teaching, I blend classical and jazz techniques to encourage students to embrace versatility and creativity. By integrating the precision and discipline of classical training with the freedom and expressiveness of jazz improvisation, I aim to nurture well-rounded musicianship. This approach not only helps students develop technical excellence but also fosters a deeper understanding of music as a living, evolving art form.

My mission as an artist is to introduce audiences to music they’ve never encountered or to reframe familiar works in unexpected ways. I believe in breaking down the perceived barriers between jazz and classical music, advocating for a more holistic approach to musicianship that values the strengths of both traditions. Through my performances, teaching, and arrangements, I aim to inspire curiosity, joy, and a fresh perspective on what music can be.