Schwarz named new music director at Palm Beach Symphony

By Lawrence A. Johnson

Gerard Schwarz conducetd the Palm Beah Symphony at the Kravis Center in April.

Gerard Schwarz conducted the Palm Beach Symphony at the Kravis Center in April.

Gerard Schwarz will be an even greater presence in South Florida next season than one had thought.

After just one concert with the Palm Beach Symphony last month, the orchestra has hired Gerard Schwarz as its new artistic director and conductor effective this fall.

That will be the American conductor’s second South Florida appointment in the 2019-20 season. Last month he was also tapped to join the faculty at the University of Miami Frost School of Music as professor of music, conducting and orchestral studies.

“Accepting the Music Director position at the Palm Beach Symphony is my great honor,” said Schwarz in a statement released by the orchestra. “During a wonderful week with the orchestra this season, I experienced their dedication to excellence, and I quickly realized what a superb orchestra they are.

“I believe we can accomplish a great deal together. There is exceptional staff and board leadership, and depth in both that also speaks to the continued growth of the orchestra in all ways. Of course, Palm Beach is a magical place, and I believe that the Palm Beach Symphony adds a great deal to that magic.”

“Our ability to attract a music director the caliber of Gerard Schwarz speaks to the quality of our orchestra and the vitality of our organization,” said Palm Beach Symphony board president Dale McNulty. “[That] is bolstered by a core group of loyal supporters that we anticipate will grow in size and diversity as we develop more innovative programming under Schwarz’s visionary artistic leadership,”

The press release makes no mention of Ramón Tebar, music director of the orchestra for the past decade (and former music director of Florida Grand Opera). Asked about Tebar, an orchestra spokesperson would only say that there had been a “ mutual parting of [the] ways.”

The Palm Beach Symphony’s 2019-20 season will be announced in June. palmbeachsymphony.org

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Tue May 28, 2019
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