Work samples

  • In the Pouring Rain

    In the summer of 2022, I was trapped at home by a summer storm, just after receiving the news that I had been invited to be the Associate Director of the 100 year old Baltimore Mandolin Orchestra. I wrote this piece while listening to the storm ebb and flow outside, anticipating working with this remarkable ensemble. They did a wonderful job with it, and this was recorded almost exactly one year later, in the summer of 2023.

  • The Stolen Child, Star of Munster/Lark in the Morning

    After several years of planning, I was able to put on the show "Faeries, Foes, and False Lovers: a Celtic Halloween." This collection of murder ballads, ghost stories, and eerie fiddle tunes was brought to brilliant life by an all star ensemble, Heather Aubrey Lloyd of ilyaimy, fiddler Joanna Clare, Kris Belgica of Ultrafaux/Hot Club of Baltimore, and Peter Krutschnitt from the Pilgrims of Deep Run. 
    This selection was an easy choice from out set, it has it all: fae, kidnappings, bemoaning the human condition, and great fiddling!

  • EMD

    This piece of jazz/bluegrass fusion is the quintessential David "Dawg" Grisman tune. Grisman is a major inspiration to me-his willingness to cross musical lines, his curiosity, and of course his incredible playing. Walsh Kunkel (guitar), and Max Jacobs (fiddle) make this trio, Dawg's Pocket, an incredible powerhouse.

  • Watercolors.mp3
    This is part of an ongoing series of pieces I am composing as a part of my work in the flamenco idiom. My hope is to adapt flamenco to the mandolin, and to bring my experiences with other styles into combination with this rich tradition. This particular piece uses Sevillanas, an Andalusian dance form, interspersed with undulating melodic material whose mode remains ambiguous, played alongside pedal tones and open, ringing quartal/quintal harmonies. The contrast of deliberate ambiguity and brilliant colors put me in mind of watercolor paintings, and so I named it for that medium. Developing the flamenco mandolin has acquired an increasingly dominant place in my musical life over the last few years, and I was fortunate enough to study with Alfonso Ponticelli, an expert in various Romani styles and virtuoso guitarist, in Chicago, who was invaluable in directing my work.

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About Joel

Baltimore City

Joel Michael-Schwartz is an eclectic, curious mandolinist, composer, and activist. Equally at home playing Bach, flamenco, bebop, swing, funk, celtic, and more, they brings expression, command, and a quirky sense of fun to all their artistic endeavors. They are Associate Director of the Baltimore Mandolin Orchestra, music faculty at Goucher College, and regularly appear at premiere venues throughout Maryland.

Passionately dedicated to using music to explore across… more

View Joel's Resume
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Baltimore Mandolin Orchestra-Associate Director

I am honored to lead this century-old ensemble alongside Mark Linkins! It is a great privilege to lead and play with this group, that is so dedicated to musical excellence, community, and, of course, the mandolin!

The Iron Ring

The Iron Ring is Tyler St. Clare (wooden flute, vocals) and Joel Michael-Schwartz (guitar, mandolin, vocals), two classically-trained musicians with a lifelong interest in celtic music. Drawing influence from the likes of Chris Norman, Martin Hayes, and John Doyle, they are carving a small new corner of the tradition in the Mid-Atlantic region.

  • The Merry Blacksmith/The Golden Keyboard

    A great set of reels with Tyler St. Clare!

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    The Bluegrass Nutcracker by The Front Porch Orchestra

    I play mandolin for this powerhouse, nine-piece group. Every holiday season we bring a virtuosic re-imagining of Tchaikovsky's classic ballet (with a comic narrator to replace the dancers) across Maryland. The FPO is dedicated to making classical music more accessible, more fun, and much funnier.

    • The Bluegrass Nutcracker
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    Faeries, Foes, and False Lovers: A Celtic Halloween

    Several years in the planning, this extravaganza of spooky music premiered at the Creative Alliance in October of 2023. Led by mandolinist Joel Michael-Schwartz and acclaimed singer Heather Lloyd (ilyaimy) an all-star ensemble of musicians is bringing songs of ghosts, monsters, fae, witches, and, (of course), murder most foul to Creative Alliance. Heather and Joel share a love of old, macabre songs and their peculiar place in our lives and hearts and are eager to bring these haunting melodies to you during the spookiest time of year. Also in the fabulous group is Joanna Clare (fiddle), Kris Belgica (guitar) of Ultrafaux and Hot Club of Baltimore, and Peter Krutschnitt (percussion) of Pilgrims of Deep Run.

    • The Stolen Child, Star of Munster/Lark in the Morning

      After several years of planning, I was able to put on the show "Faeries, Foes, and False Lovers: a Celtic Halloween." This collection of murder ballads, ghost stories, and eerie fiddle tunes was brought to brilliant life by an all star ensemble, Heather Aubrey Lloyd of ilyaimy, fiddler Joanna Clare, Kris Belgica of Ultrafaux/Hot Club of Baltimore, and Peter Krutschnitt from the Pilgrims of Deep Run. 
      This selection was an easy choice from out set, it has it all: fae, kidnappings, bemoaning the human condition, and great fiddling!

    •

    Dawg's Pocket

    Dawg’s Pocket is a new Baltimore based, all-star acoustic ensemble inspired by the music of David “Dawg” Grisman. Encompassing bluegrass, jazz, choro, old time, and much more, Dawg’s Pocket brings hard driving, dance-able virtuosity to music form across the world. Led by Joel Michael-Schwartz (mandolin/vocals).

    • EMD

      EMD by David Grisman with Max Jacobs (fiddle/violin), and Walsh Kunkel (guitar)

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    Mandolin and Guitar Faculty-Goucher College

    I am proud to teach plucked strings at my alma mater, Goucher College. This institution allowed me to study mandolin at a rarefied level, and it is a joy to get to pass that along to my students.

    Solo Performance

    Solo performance, especially those in which I can fuse improvisation, composition, and music from around the world, have always formed a core part of my musical life. 

    • Impromptu
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