Amy Schwartz Moretti says she “doesn’t remember a day without the violin.” Now, she inspires that passion in her strings students.
“I’ve been around and in love with music my whole life,” she said. “My life leading to today has included lots of alone practice, lots of playing for teachers and other musical professionals, lots of performing and lots of seeking inspiration and musical context. From a young age, I enjoyed sharing music with others and constantly sought out that experience.”
Moretti graduated from the prestigious Cleveland Institute of Music for both her undergraduate and master’s degrees. A member of the acclaimed Ehnes Quartet, she was previously the concertmaster of the Oregon Symphony and The Florida Orchestra before coming to Mercer’s School of Music as the first director of the Robert McDuffie Center for Strings in 2007.
“My current position has allowed me to continue that passion and share my knowledge with the next generations,” she said.
Building a new strings conservatory in the 21st century was an ambitious idea. Moretti credits the vision of the founder, celebrated concert violinist and Macon native Robert McDuffie, for bringing the center to life.
“As its founding director, I took the challenge to make it happen and began to dream and imagine what it could be,” she said.
She believes the center’s success boils down to “the right people, the right time and the right place.” That includes Moretti, who has taken the opportunity at Mercer to create and curate the Fabian Concert Series, a world-class chamber series bringing renowned guest artists to Macon for intimate explorations of music. Recently, Moretti collaborated with fellow faculty member Christopher Schmitz on the premiere recording of “Violin Concerto,” a piece written specifically with Moretti’s talents in mind, alongside the London Symphony Orchestra.
When it comes to innovative projects like these, Moretti advises future leaders to “use your sense of collaboration to bring people together for the common cause, but always stay true to yourself and your passions. Trust your inner voice and follow your instincts — after all, you are a leader for a reason.”
Her talents are still highly in demand as an active musician. Moretti frequently travels for appearances both as a solo musician and with the Ehnes Quartet, with recent concerts all around the globe from Seattle to Seoul. This is balanced between an active teaching and performance schedule in Macon, where she lives with her husband and two sons.
“To the young women aspiring to lead, remember that a well-balanced life is achievable,” she said. “With dedication and determination, you can accomplish anything you set your mind to.”
For McDuffie Center students, the opportunity to work in close mentorship with top musicians in their field, like Moretti, is what makes their education stand out. Plus, a unique hybrid curriculum model combines an intensive conservatory experience with liberal arts and entrepreneurship training.
These novel efforts have paid off, and quickly, as the center’s reputation has grown.
“Two significant new schools have been started to train musicians since I came to the U.S. as a student,” influential conductor Peter Oundjian, conductor emeritus of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and current principal conductor of the Colorado Symphony, told The Telegraph. “One is The Colburn School begun by a multi-billionaire in Los Angeles. The other is the McDuffie Center begun in Macon. … I love the school and its students who perform at an astonishingly high level.”
After just over a decade of graduates matriculating into the professional ranks of classical music, McDuffie Center students have won major prizes in competitions around the world, secured top spots in symphony orchestras, performed exciting new music with established and up-and-coming chamber groups and used their business training to create their own music nonprofits.
“It makes me extremely happy when I see the students succeed,” Moretti said. “Being part of their growth process and witnessing their moments of discovery and greatness are extremely rewarding.”
She’s received an Alumni Achievement Award from her alma mater, Cleveland Institute of Music, and was named a 2014 San Francisco Conservatory of Music Fanfare Honoree. In 2018, she was selected as one of Musical America’s Top 30 Professionals of the Year, among other honors.
Despite awards, press and crowds, Moretti said her lifelong love for music is what still keeps her going: “I am passionate about the music and sharing it, whether with my students or an audience.”
