About

Robert Schultz, American composer, arranger and editor, has achieved international fame during his career in the music publishing industry. The Robert Schultz Piano Library, established in 1980, has included more than 500 publications of classical works, popular arrangements, and Schultz’s original compositions in editions for pianists at every level from beginner to concert artist. In addition to this extensive library of published piano works, Schultz’s output includes original orchestral works, choral and vocal works, chamber music and works for solo instruments.

Born in 1948, Schultz grew up in Uniontown, Pennsylvania where his music training began with piano teacher Katherine Keighley. In addition to his piano studies Schultz was an active athlete involved in track, cross-country and was a member of the state champion basketball team. He also became an avid fly fisherman, spending time trout-fishing in the limestone streams of western Pennsylvania. Following high school, Schultz enlisted in the navy where he received training as an Anti-Submarine Warfare Technician and was assigned to VP-23, a patrol squadron based in Brunswick, Maine. As an air-crewman, Schultz made deployments to Iceland, Spain, the Azores, Sicily and Crete. During his time in the navy Schultz’s love of music, especially the piano, continued to grow. With no opportunity for formal music study readily available, Schultz spent much of his off-duty time practicing and composing on whatever piano could be found on the base where he was stationed.

In 1971, Schultz entered the College of Creative Arts at West Virginia University, where he later would graduate magna cum laude, earning a Bachelor of Music Degree in Theory/Composition, and a Master of Music Degree in Composition under the tutelage of composer Thomas Canning. Schultz applied himself as a serious composer from the beginning of his study with Canning, creating a number of works that were later published and continue to be performed around the world today. He composed and arranged for many of WVU’s performing ensembles, and wrote the incidental music for productions of The Seagull and Long Day’s Journey Into Night. Schultz also wrote original music for his own piano students, compositions which would later be published in his Future Artists Series.

Schultz was equally serious about his piano studies during his years at WVU, studying with James Miltenberger and Herman Godes. He maintained an active piano teaching schedule, teaching in the Preparatory Department, the summer Fine Arts Camp, and as a graduate teaching assistant teaching both private and group piano. Schultz was an active accompanist as well as the pianist for the WVU Jazz Band and the highly-acclaimed Percussion Ensemble under the direction of Phillip Faini. Schultz also developed a keen and lasting interest in piano technology, which he studied with master-technician Dean Shank. Schultz recalls his years at WVU as an extraordinary educational experience, crediting his study and participation in a wide range of music disciplines as the foundation for the diversity of his library of publications.

In 1978 Schultz moved to Miami, Florida to begin work for Columbia Pictures Publications as an arranger. Within one year Schultz was promoted to Senior Keyboard Editor and also became the featured piano writer for the publisher. The earliest editions of his published works included the Future Artists Series, piano transcriptions of orchestral works, arrangements of popular music, and Schultz editions of standard classical piano pieces–all of which became the basis for The Robert Schultz Piano Library. During the next 25 years, Schultz would write more than 3,000 works for this library published within the catalogs of Belwin Mills, Columbia Pictures Publications, CPP/Belwin, The FJH Music Company, Warner Bros. Publications, and Alfred Music Publishing Co.

In 1990 Schultz left the senior editor position to devote his full attention to composing and arranging from his studio. In 1997 Schultz married Tina Faigen, his business partner, collaborator, editor and interpreter of his concert piano works. Together they launched Schultz Music Publications, co-authored the Accelerando Piano Technique Series and other renowned piano editions, as well as collaborating on recording projects and concerts. In 2001 they brought Schultz Music Publications to the internet with the creation of SchultzMusic.com.

In 2008 Schultz and Faigen moved to Pittsburgh, bringing their publishing, writing, teaching and performing activites back to the region where both had grown up. As both thrive in the vibrant music and arts community of that area, Schultz’s catalog continues to grow with commissions and premieres of new choral works, chamber music, works for orchestra, and new additions to The Robert Schultz Piano Library.

Tina Faigen, pianist, holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Oberlin College, and Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from University of Miami where she studied under renowned pianist Ivan Davis. Faigen is a recording artist, appears in solo recitals and chamber music concerts, and performs as guest soloist with orchestras. A recipient of many prizes and awards, she has performed on the distinguished Pittsburgh “Y” Recital Series, is a 1989 winner of the Pittsburgh Concert Society Majors, and has been engaged as guest pianist with numerous orchestras including the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra at the age of 13, and having been awarded a debut tour, with Orchestra Sinfonica Abruzzeze in Italy.

Appearing in over 30 performances of Tchaikovsky’s 3rd Piano Concerto with Edward Villella’s Miami City Ballet, the Miami Herald writes, “Tina Faigen played so brilliantly that it was difficult at times to concentrate on the dancing.” Music critics have described her as “commanding a rich palette of pianistic colors and fingers of awesome dexterity,” and as having “a compelling combination of solid technique and distinctive interpretation, full of color and nuance, with her virtuosity the servant of the music. A stunning performer who plays with assurance, fluidity and power.”

Faigen’s recordings of Robert Schultz’s works Visions of Dunbar and Tina Faigen Plays Piano Transcriptions have received rave reviews. “Faigen plays Schultz’s works superlatively, effortlessly clarifying their rippling complexities and performing with supple dexterity, a clear, resonant tone and sensitive touch.” Faigen is co-author of the acclaimed Accelerando Piano Technique Series, along with numerous other editions of educational piano music. Since 1992 she has served as the principal editor for The Robert Schultz Piano Library.

Since her recent relocation to Pittsburgh, Faigen has performed on the Steinway Recital Series, the Chatham Guest Artist Series, the Pittsburgh Concert Society 70th Anniversary Gala, was featured artist on the Carnegie Mellon University special event concert, “Schultz, Faigen & Friends,” and has performed live on WQED-FM. Faigen has maintained an active teaching studio since the age of 14, is on the piano faculty at University of Pittsburgh, and is a faculty member of the Music Preparatory School at Carnegie Mellon University. Also a violinist, Faigen serves as Principal 2nd in the Edgewood Symphony Orchestra.

For more information or to contact Tina directly, visit her website https://tinafaigen.com.