Dan Schwartz

Dr. Dan Schwartz is an oboist, educator, and performer based in Chicago, Illinois. As Director of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Lake Forest College, as well as founder and music director of Chicagoland Youth Pops, Dan is passionate about connecting students and audiences to music in new and exciting ways. Before joining Lake Forest College, Dan was Associate Professor of Oboe at the University of Oklahoma School of Music.

An avid performer, Dan spent ten years as Associate Principal Oboe/English Horn with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic. Prior to this role, he performed with orchestras throughout North America, including the National Arts Centre Orchestra of Canada (under the baton of Pinchas Zukerman), the Nashville Symphony, the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, and the San Antonio Symphony. He also spent many summers as Principal Oboe with FAVA Opera in Périgueux, France.

Dan is a frequent recitalist at the International Double Reed Society Conference, most notably performing his own original compositions. As an educator, he has recently presented masterclasses at the University of Michigan, DePaul University, the University of Texas at Austin, Vanderbilt University, the University of Costa Rica, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Interlochen Arts Academy, the University of Missouri-Kansas City, the University of Northern Colorado, and the University of Central Florida, among others.

Dan holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Oboe Performance from Vanderbilt University, graduating summa cum laude and receiving the university's highest academic honor, the Founders Medal. He also holds a Master of Music degree in Oboe Performance from the University of Texas at Austin and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Oboe Performance and Literature from the Eastman School of Music, where he also completed a minor in Music Education.

Beyond performing, Dan is a dedicated composer with numerous published works to his name. His compositions have been featured in recitals and conferences around the world. A passionate traveler and advocate for cultural exploration, Dan has performed and taught in Spain, France, Japan, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Romania, the Bahamas, Canada, Costa Rica, and Australia, including an appearance in Sydney during the 2000 Summer Olympic Games.