User:Davidbeers/David Schwartz (violist)

David Schwartz (June 18, 1916 - present) is an American violist and instructor. Schwartz's career spanned orchestral, chamber music, and studio recording, but he is most recognized for his chamber music performances and recordings with the Yale and Paganini Quartets.

Musical Education
Schwartz studied viola at Curtis Institute under teachers Louis Bailly and Max Aronoff.

Orchestral Career
Schwartz joined the Cleveland Orchestra at age 20. At age 23 he was promoted by Cleveland conductor Artur Rodzinski to the role of Principal Violist. He performed and toured with Leopold Stokowski's All-American Youth Orchestra. During World War II, he enlisted in the Army and became lead violist of the Glenn Miller Army Air Force Band in 1943. After the war he performed with the Detroit Symphony, the NBC Staff Orchestra and the NBC Symphony Orchestra under Arturo Toscanini. He also performed solo at Carnegie Hall in New York City in the early 1960s.

Chamber Music
In his 20s, Schwartz performed with the Walden String Quartet. From 1958-1960 he toured Asia, South America and the United States as violist of the Paganini Quartet. While teaching viola at Yale he joined the Yale Quartet with Broadus Erle (violin) Yoko Matsuda (violin) and Aldo Parisot (cello). Their first recording was nominated in the late 1960s for a Grammy Award. This ensemble is best known for their recordings between 1967 and 1971 of the Late Beethoven quartets.

Studio Work
After moving to Los Angeles in 1970 to teach viola at the California Institute of the Arts, Schwartz became sought after as a studio musician and was principal violist in numerous motion pictures and recordings. His film credits include The Godfather, Jaws, E.T., Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Raiders of the Lost Ark and he served for many years as composer/conductor John Williams' principal violist. He also performed on recordings by many prominent jazz and pop musicians including Frank Sinatra, Johnny Mathis, Bill Evans, Dianna Ross and The Supremes, Sergio Mendes, Lionel Richie and John Hiatt. He was five times voted Most Valuable Player by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and then received the Emeritus MVP award.

Professional Support for Musicians
During his later career as a studio musician Schwartz also became active as an officer in various organizations that support professional musicians. He served on the Board of the American Federation of Musicians and Employer's Pension Fund, was Treasurer of Curtis Alumni Association West, and served as Vice President of the Recording Musicians Association of Los Angeles.