Jack Schwimmer
Schwimmer, a student at Arizona State University and Barrett, The Honors College, will graduate in May with a Bachelor of Music with a major in saxophone performance and a minor in political science.
For his academic and musical accomplishments, he has been chosen as the honors college Outstanding Graduate for Creative Project. "I can think of no one more deserving of this award than Jack, and I am convinced that wherever he goes and in whatever he does, Jack will make this university proud," said Hannah Creviston, a visiting assistant professor at the ASU School of Music, who nominated Schwimmer for the award.
Indeed, Schwimmer's list of accomplishments is long. He performs with the Musicfest Quartet, a group of ASU student musicians who travel to local elementary and middle schools to play for students, give demonstrations of various instruments, and encourage young children to join their school band. He also gives weekly jazz saxophone sectionals at Connolly Middle School in Tempe, teaches private saxophone lessons for students ranging in age from nine to 66 years old, plays with the ASU Concert Jazz Band and Saxophone Ensemble, and has performed the National anthem at Oakland Athletics spring training games. His professional music experience includes working as ensemble manager at the Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan.
"I feel strongly that music education can be a positive force in childrens lives, both for its proven effectiveness in raising test scores and increasing intelligence, and also for its inherent intrinsic value. There is no greater feeling for me than the thrill that comes after a great performance, and I want to share that with younger students. In addition, Ive had the opportunity to meet so many inspiring people that have had a profound effect on me as a musician and as a person," Schwimmer said.
He has performed with some of those inspiring people: Grammy Award winning jazz guitarist George Benson and members of the R&B super group The Temptations.
"There is nothing like the experience of getting to play with someone like George Benson or The Temptations. Having grown up listening to their music, it was completely surreal performing songs like 'My Girl' with the same band that recorded them. Moments like those are the reason I love to perform," he added.
All of this musical work hasnt detracted from Schwimmers academic accomplishments and leadership activities. He is a National Merit Scholar with a 3.97 GPA, a three-time member of the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts Academic Bowl team, a music editor and featured musician for the Lux Undergraduate Creative Review, and a mentor for the Barrett Mentoring Program.
His honors thesis, titled "Forgotten Voices: The Lives, Deaths, and Works of Four Theresienstadt Composers," focused on the work of composers and musicians imprisoned in the Nazi-era Theresienstadt concentration camp in what is now the Czech Republic.
Receiving this award is a real honor, especially being chosen from among so many amazing students here at Barrett. The fact that faculty thought highly enough of me to nominate me is really great too, Schwimmer said.
Barrett Dean Mark Jacobs said Schwimmer combines musicianship and community service, making him deserving of the award. Jack in an incredibly talented musician who lives to bring his joy of music to others, both as pure listening pleasure and as therapy and education, Jacobs said.
Schwimmer plans to attend graduate school at Southern Methodist University in Dallas for a joint program leading to a Master of Arts and a master's in business administration focusing on arts management.
"I'd ideally like to start and lead a music education nonprofit, keep playing and teaching," he said.