John Schwartz began playing the clarinet at age 11, and went on to receive a bachelor’s in music from West Chester State University and a master’s from Temple University. His principal clarinet teacher was Anthony Liberio, a protégé of Gino Cioffi, former principal clarinetist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. John worked as a music teacher and band director in the Bethlehem School District until his retirement in 1997. It was shortly after his retirement that the CMS Executive Director at that time, George Schermerhorn “talked him into” coming to CMS to teach one particular clarinet student. He said “yes,” and that student has since gone on to teach clarinet at the University of Delaware.
Over the next 23 years of his career at CMS, John taught and positively influenced dozens of clarinet students, many of whom achieved district, regional, state band, and even NafME’s All-East Band. While those achievements may have been the primary goals for his students, John shared that his favorite part of teaching was the beginning of each week’s lesson, when he got to see what each student had accomplished since their last lesson.
John’s teaching talents are equally matched by his talents as a performing musician. In addition to performing in a multitude of chamber ensembles, musicals, dance bands, church groups, and recitals, John performed with the Allentown Symphony Orchestra for 57 years and served as the principal clarinetist. He was also the principal clarinetist for the Pottstown Symphony for 25 years.
While teaching at CMS, John greatly enjoyed performing with his fellow teachers and his many outstanding students in recitals and at the Spring Brunch fundraiser at Lehigh Country Club. Some of his favorite CMS performances included debuting original pieces by Hal Black, an adult piano student of Dr. David Saturen. At the 2015 Faculty-Student Recital, John, along with Dr. David Saturen on piano, performed Hal’s original composition “Do You Remember This One?” for clarinet and piano. The duo performed Hal’s “Clarinet & Piano Studies: 1. A Busy Day, 2. A Quiet Afternoon” at the 2019 Faculty-Student Recital to a great ovation.
John still loves to try out new compositions when he gets the chance. “I’ve always been good at sight reading,” John says, “The best advice I give my students is that you must know all your scales. Then you will be able to look beyond the individual notes on the page, trust your eyes, and your fingers will know what to do.”
Another performance highlight was Allegro sostenuto by L. v. Beethoven, a clarinet duet that he and his adult student Mary Pulanco performed at the 2022 Spring Brunch. During her senior year of high school, Mary enrolled in clarinet lessons with John at CMS to prepare for college. After becoming an elementary music teacher herself, she returned to CMS to continue her clarinet studies with John. Back in 2021, Lisa Kulp sat down with Mary and John to learn more about her experience returning to lessons as an adult (read the article here). Mary is currently pursuing a Professional Performance Certificate in Music at Penn State.
All three of John’s performances are available to watch on the CMS YouTube Channel here:
“Do You Remember This One?” by H. Black
“Clarinet & Piano Studies: 1. A Busy Day, 2. A Quiet Afternoon” by H. Black
Allegro sostenuto by L. v. Beethoven
John retired from CMS on June 30, 2024. In retirement, John is focused on spending time with his family, and he continues to play 45+ concerts each year with the Allentown Band. He joined during his junior year of high school, and after a hiatus of several decades, he returned to playing with the Band about 15 years ago. In his spare time, he tends his abundant flower and vegetable gardens, bowls, plays pinochle, volunteers with the Nazareth Rotary, teaches a few lessons at Lafayette College, and listens to his favorite composer, Johannes Brahms. Even after seven surgeries on John’s fingers, the music still goes on!
We wish John continued health and happiness in his retirement!
“Do You Remember This One?” by H. Black
Allegro sostenuto by L. v. Beethoven