After 42 Years of Service, Dr. Jack Schwarz Retires
Storage boxes stand in stacks around the walls of Dr. Jack Schwarz’s Sutherland Hall office in a disconcerting array, signaling the fast approaching end of a very important era.  For 42 years, Dr. Schwarz has had an immeasurable impact on the students of Biola University, not only those in the Conservatory of Music, but indirectly on all who were participants and audience members in the hundreds and hundreds of concerts, classes, chapels, and other special events which have taken place on this campus during that period of time.

Jack Schwarz, a 1961 Biola graduate, returned as a part-time music faculty member in 1963.  He received a full-time contract in 1965, and served as chairman of the Music Department from 1970-2001. In 1998, he accepted the responsibility of serving as Dean of Fine Arts and Communication, and upon his retirement as chairman of the Music Department in 2001, also took on the deanship of the Humanities area.  At the end of the Spring semester, 2005, Jack will step down from his full-time responsibilities and will move to 25% time as mentor to the incoming deans of both areas.

In Jack’s thinking, the scenes from countless movies and TV shows where someone leaves his job and packs up all his office and personal things in a small cardboard box do not really tell the whole story or accurately portray the reality.  The many, many boxes in his office attest to this.  The contents include not only factual documents, but also the memories of 42 years of service in a constantly renewing and growing environment.

Recalling some of the highlights and satisfying experiences of his career at Biola, Jack names as one of the most significant achievements to take place in the department’s history the achievement of associate membership in the National Association of Schools of Music in 1970.  Following that event, full membership was granted in 1977, with successful committee site visits and membership renewals in 1987 and 1997.  The membership in this nationally recognized accrediting body is valuable to the Conservatory as it raises its standards and credibility in the higher education arts community, and therefore to the university as a whole.

Jack also mentioned the development and maintenance of a vibrant concert series which has included many stellar performances by world-renowned pianist Menahem Pressler and, with the vision of Jennie Wong, his eventual establishment as Biola’s Artist-in-Residence; performances by world class artists such as the Canadian Brass, the Beaux Arts Trio, and soprano, Marilyn Horn; and the establishment of the Music at Noon series.  There were also special recognition events on the series: Festival 500, in 1983, was a multi-program celebration of the birth of Martin Luther, and a Bach Festival in 1985 commemorated the 300th anniversary of the birth of the great composer. And there were numerous major works performed by the Chorale and Orchestra. 

Also during Jack’s chairmanship, Biola saw the establishment of the long-running and successful Christmas event, “Celebrate the Son,” which was a collaborative work of all the departments in the fine arts area:  art, drama, and music.  For many years this unique celebration drew thousands of people to campus to experience a program that always kept Christ at the center of the season.  It also represented Jack’s continued effort to create a sense of community among the fine arts departments.

The growth of the Music Department (now the Conservatory of Music) over the years is another satisfying highlight.  Jack recalls that in 1964, there was a new music building and approximately 45 mostly organ, choral and vocal music majors, with a few small instrumental ensembles filling out the ranks.  Today, the Conservatory boasts a completely packed building, with around 125 music majors, 5 degree options, an excellent symphony orchestra, wind ensemble, jazz ensemble and chorale, and numerous small vocal and instrumental ensembles.  The internal usefulness of the building has been expanded to the maximum and the department has done miracles with what it had to work with.  There has also been wonderful and constant growth in performance expectation and in the quality of the students who come.  The faculty continues to improve in its strength and impact on the students.

There have been uncountable humorous situations over the years as well. Among them, although it probably wasn’t humorous at the time, the year Jack accompanied Ray Lutke and the Symphonic Wind Ensemble on tour to Chicago.  They traveled all together in a bus for 17 days in winter, many students without proper clothing for snowy weather.  By the time they reached Colorado Springs on the return leg of the tour, at least half of the ensemble were sick and decided that performance was not possible.  Jack and Ray, with a “show must go on” principle firmly in place, told the students that they didn’t sign up to be sick, and if they could sit up they had to play!

Also representative of life with music students was the incident involving two unnamed students, who somehow managed, unbeknownst to faculty and staff, to set up their own office, computer and all, in one of the Crowell Hall attics.  Strange power outages occurred off and on, and Physical Plant actually was called in to set up a new breaker to handle the increased need before the “illegal” occupancy came to light and the creative geniuses were locked out of the space.

Legendary are Jack’s fierce determination to keep Crowell Hall looking as good as it can look, both inside and out, and his tenacious effort to find more space within the building, creating it from seemingly nothing.

On May 16th, Dr. Schwarz was enthusiastically honored at a farewell reception on the Biola campus, during which many colleagues paid tribute to him.  As those of us who have been privileged to observe and work with Jack over the years of his service look back, we recognize that his leadership, vision and faithful pursuit of excellence are largely responsible for the recognized character, definition, and outstanding reputation of the Conservatory of Music today. 

What comes after Jack’s life at Biola?  Acting on the advice of a dear friend to, “Retire when you still can”, Jack and Linda are praying for God’s direction for ministry opportunities in parts of the world where there may be needs which they are equipped to meet.  They look forward to having more time for travel and family, and particularly delighting in the growth of their 9 grandchildren.

Jack states, “Retirement marks the anticipation of an adventure, believing that God has a plan for the rest of our lives, and that we will find joy in discovering how He can use us in our future.”

Thank you, Jack, for so fully and faithfully investing yourself in the life of Biola in general, and the Conservatory of Music in particular, for over 42 years

	BIOLA RECORDINGS
	Conservatory CD's are available through the Conservatory Office by calling (562) 903-4892. The recordings reflect the diversity of talent and creativity within the Conservatory.

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