GARY SCHWARTZ

Musician/guitar player with unusual tastes

He earned a BFA in music in 1977 and the following year, was offered a part-time teaching position. He currently teaches jazz ensemble, improvisation, theory and guitar. Schwartz has kept a busy schedule throughout the years, working in organ trios, big bands, pop, blues, ethnic and funk bands. He has even played with one of his childhood heroes, the late James Brown. He has worked on numerous musicals, including Les Miserables, Chicago, Showboat and Evita. In 2012, he performed with the operatic pop group Il Divo in Ottawa and Montreal.

“The beauty of music is that it erases social barriers and allows us to connect at very deep levels,” he says. “It is incredibly satisfying to share this experience with former students.”