Chiona Xanthopoulou-Schwarz

Chiona Schwarz, a native of Greece, heads the Schwarz Foundation, which she founded with her entrepreneur husband, Dr. Kurt Schwarz. The mission of this private foundation is to foster the exchange between various cultures through projects and initiatives mostly focusing on music and fine arts. In addition, the Foundation awards fellowships to artists within a wide range of pursuits. The foundation runs the Samos Young Artists Festival, an international music festival financed exclusively by private donations and local organizations that is held each year on the island of Samos in Greece. Mrs. Schwarz and her husband founded the festival in 2010, and shortly after that purchased and renovated an abandoned hotel on the island for use during the festival. In addition to the Metropolitan Opera’s International Council, Mrs. Schwarz serves on the Manhattan School of Music’s International Advisory Board. She and her husband are supporters of the Metropolitan Opera and the Munich opera house Bayerische Staatsoper’s Opera Studio program for young artists.