Dr. Michael Schwartzkopf
Michael Schwartzkopf is a Professor Emeritus of Choral Music and Music Education at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. He was a member of the Alliance of Distinguished Rank and Titled Professors at Indiana University and held the Pam and Jack Burks Professorship Chair in Music. Before his retirement he became the tenth recipient of the Distinguished Service Medal of Indiana University bestowed by President Michael McRobbie. During his 17 years at Indiana he was the conductor of the Grammy Nominated Singing Hoosiers and recorded 2 CDs with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra under the late Erich Kunzel. He served as Chair of the Music Education Department and Interim Chair of the Choral Conducting Department and taught choral conducting and music education courses on the undergraduate and graduate levels. During his collegiate teaching at Mercer, Illinois State, and Indiana Universities his choirs presented concerts at ACDA and music education conferences and toured throughout Europe, Greece, and China. As a singer and performer, his repertoire spans the entire spectrum of classical and popular music, oratorio, opera, and musical theatre having performed in the theaters, on the concert stages, and in the cathedrals of Europe and the United States with various orchestras and choral ensembles. During the Viet Nam era he was a principal soloist with the United States Army Band, the United States Army Chorus, and Army Blues Jazz Band and a soloist on several occasions in the White House. In retirement he is the chorus master for the Hilton Head Symphony and conductor/soloist for the Hilton Head Plantation Jazz Band and soloist for the Evolution Jazz Band. He continues to be active as an adjudicator, lecturer, and clinician having conducted numerous state, regional, and all-state choirs throughout the United States, Canada, and Singapore.
