Mark Schweizer
Encyclopedia
Mark Schweizer is an American musician, composer, writer, and music professor. A native of Florida
, Schweizer received music degrees from Stetson University
in Deland and the University of Arizona
including a doctorate
in vocal performance. He returned to teach at Stetson University, followed by eight years at Louisiana College
in Pineville. He has taught also at Austin Peay State University
, Murray State University
, Hopkinsville Community College
and the University of the South.
As a bass-baritone, Schweizer has performed with regional opera companies across the country, in solo recital, and in oratorio
including appearing as the bass soloist with Robert Shaw
and the Atlanta Symphony in Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.
Schweizer is the president and editor of St. James Music Press in Tryon, North Carolina
.
He is also the author of the St. Germaine mystery series (The Alto Wore Tweed
, The Baritone Wore Chiffon
, The Tenor Wore Tapshoes
), "The Soprano Wore Falsettos", "The Bass Wore Scales", and "The Mezzo Wore Mink" and three others.
Schweizer has been active as a composer, arranger, editor, and librettist
. As a composer, his work consists primarily of choral works for sacred use, including church operas and musicals. Besides libretti written for himself to set, he has also written libretti for operas with composers Richard Shephard
and Carson Cooman.
boom of the 1980s, built a log cabin
, and directed stage productions.
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, Schweizer received music degrees from Stetson University
Stetson University
Stetson University is a private university with four colleges and schools located across the I-4 corridor in Central Florida. The primary undergraduate campus is located in DeLand, Florida, USA. In the 2012 U.S...
in Deland and the University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
including a doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in vocal performance. He returned to teach at Stetson University, followed by eight years at Louisiana College
Louisiana College
Louisiana College is a private institution of higher education located in Pineville, Louisiana, affiliated with the Louisiana Baptist Convention, serving a student body of approximately 1,300 students. The college operates on a semester system, with two shorter summer terms...
in Pineville. He has taught also at Austin Peay State University
Austin Peay State University
Austin Peay State University is a four-year public university located in Clarksville, Tennessee, and operated by the Tennessee Board of Regents. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools .-History:...
, Murray State University
Murray State University
Murray State University, located in the city of Murray, Kentucky, is a four-year public university with approximately 10,400 students. The school is Kentucky’s only public university to be listed in the U.S.News & World Report regional university top tier for the past 20 consecutive years...
, Hopkinsville Community College
Hopkinsville Community College
Hopkinsville Community College , located in Hopkinsville, KY, is one of 16 two-year, open-admissions colleges of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System . Founded in 1965, HCC maintains a main campus in Hopkinsville and a branch campus on the Fort Campbell Army base...
and the University of the South.
As a bass-baritone, Schweizer has performed with regional opera companies across the country, in solo recital, and in oratorio
Oratorio
An oratorio is a large musical composition including an orchestra, a choir, and soloists. Like an opera, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an ensemble, various distinguishable characters, and arias...
including appearing as the bass soloist with Robert Shaw
Robert Shaw (conductor)
Robert Shaw was an American conductor most famous for his work with his namesake Chorale, with the Cleveland Orchestra and Chorus, and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. Shaw received 14 Grammy awards, four ASCAP awards for service to contemporary music, the first Guggenheim Fellowship...
and the Atlanta Symphony in Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.
Schweizer is the president and editor of St. James Music Press in Tryon, North Carolina
Tryon, North Carolina
Tryon is a town in Polk County, North Carolina, United States. According to the 2000 Census the population of Tryon was 1,760. The area is a center for equestrian activity and fine arts....
.
He is also the author of the St. Germaine mystery series (The Alto Wore Tweed
The Alto Wore Tweed
The Alto Wore Tweed is the first novel in the St. Germaine mystery series by Mark Schweizer.In this book, Hayden Koenig investigates the murder of a janitor found in the choirloft....
, The Baritone Wore Chiffon
The Baritone Wore Chiffon
The Baritone Wore Chiffon is the second book in Mark Schweizer's St. Germaine mystery series.In this book, Hayden koenig travels to York, England, where he investigates the death of a bearded woman ....
, The Tenor Wore Tapshoes
The Tenor Wore Tapshoes
The Tenor Wore Tapshoes is the third book in the St. Germaine mystery series by Mark Schweizer.In this novel, Chief Koenig investigates the murder of a body discovered half a century after the crime....
), "The Soprano Wore Falsettos", "The Bass Wore Scales", and "The Mezzo Wore Mink" and three others.
Schweizer has been active as a composer, arranger, editor, and librettist
Libretto
A libretto is the text used in an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata, or musical. The term "libretto" is also sometimes used to refer to the text of major liturgical works, such as mass, requiem, and sacred cantata, or even the story line of a...
. As a composer, his work consists primarily of choral works for sacred use, including church operas and musicals. Besides libretti written for himself to set, he has also written libretti for operas with composers Richard Shephard
Richard Shephard
Richard Shephard is a composer, former educator, and Director of Development and Chamberlain of York Minster. He is acclaimed as one of the most significant composers of church music today.-Education and musical career:...
and Carson Cooman.
Other pursuits
He has also hosted a classical music radio show, attempted to cash in on the pot-bellied pigPot-bellied pig
The pot-bellied pig is a breed of domesticated pig originating in Vietnam.-Description:Considerably smaller than standard American or European farm pigs, most adult pot-bellied pigs are about the size of a medium- or large-breed dog, though their bodies are denser at 8 to 136 kg...
boom of the 1980s, built a log cabin
Log cabin
A log cabin is a house built from logs. It is a fairly simple type of log house. A distinction should be drawn between the traditional meanings of "log cabin" and "log house." Historically most "Log cabins" were a simple one- or 1½-story structures, somewhat impermanent, and less finished or less...
, and directed stage productions.