Frank Graham Schiro

Frank left us much too soon on July 3, 2024, after a fierce and cruel battle with glioblastoma. Over the progression of the disease, he maintained an upbeat attitude, exercised his wicked sense of humor, and continued to pursue his art and friendships with passion.

Frank was born in Sacramento, California to Dr. Frank G. Schiro, and Alice Giberson Schiro, the youngest of three children. He graduated from C.K. McClatchy High School, and went on obtain degrees in French, Psychology, Music, and a Masters degree in International Business Administration. Frank was also a proud Alumnus of the esteemed BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theater Workshop.

Frank's resume lists his talents as: Educator, Composer, Lyricist, Musical Director, Conductor, Performer. He was all that and a bag of chips!

Frank listed "Educator" first on his resume, as he took immense joy in teaching and in bringing out the artist in everyone from a pre-teen first time performer to a Broadway bound actor. He taught at NYU in The Steinhardt School of Music and Performing Arts from 2002 to 2023, specializing in Song Analysis and Vocal Coaching. He had a private vocal coaching practice, and co-owned Way off Broadway, a school for children training to sing and dance on Broadway. He taught a Master Class series on American Musical Theater in Shanghai, China for three summers, and toured Europe in 2019 giving Master Classes and private vocal coaching sessions in London, Hamburg, Berlin, Turin, Milan, and Munich. Way Off Broadway had a full roster for classes in Long Island during the school year, with many of Frank's students pursuing theater as a career. In addition, Way off Broadway did theater camps in Napa, California for many summers. There were two camps, divided by age (5 to 12 and 13 to 18). Each camp was two weeks in length and at the end of camp, the students presented a complete musical with sets they'd made, singing and performing choreography. Many of the students and their siblings returned every year and remembered it as a time of song, dance, and laughter.

Frank's students and colleagues were invited to share their memories of Frank in emails read to him in late June. "Every success I've had, I would not have if Frank hadn't believed in me" was a common theme from a number of students. Frank fostered talent and instilled confidence that changed many students' lives as people and as artists. Frank was described as a "master of sarcasm and wit" and being "hilariously snarky and sweet". Those students who fetched coffee for him remembered the coffee had to be the "color of a brown paper bag". His colleagues said he was a master of pedagogy, and still use some of his quirky phrases in their teaching --- "Don't put a hat on a hat!".

Although Performer was listed last on the resume, one of his proudest moments was playing "Rhapsody in Blue" in a powder blue tuxedo with tails, along with 83 other pianists at the opening ceremonies of the l984 Olympics in Los Angeles. He shared his gift of musical talent with untold numbers from tiny ballerinas and underserved youth in NYC to audiences at hundreds of productions across the country.

As a composer, Frank was prolific. He was the creator or co-creator of five original musicals: The Happy Prince (music, lyrics and book); Pryor Rendering (music); The Great Gatsby, An American Musical (music); Those Musclebound Cowboys from Snake Pit Gulch (music); and Twice Upon a Birthday, a children's opera (music). His first composition, at age five, was "March of the Autumn Leaves", and his final composition was "Pure", written in 2022 for Gatsby. In addition, Frank wrote music for a sketch comedy, plays, a short film, and numerous theater productions.

Music and art were Frank's life. He wrote in the playbill for The Happy Prince "Sometimes art can change your life. A painting, an article, a dance, or a story can touch you in such a way that you're never exactly the same as you were before. Such was my experience with The Happy Prince by Oscar Wilde. I have never tired of the clear, simple message of selfless generosity imparted by the piece, and I continue to enjoy the benefits from this small part of me that has become illuminated. If even one or two of you tonight experience only the smallest flickering of a light finding its way to a place inside you that might be in shadow, I will have succeeded."

One of Frank's true gifts was being a magnificent friend. Whether you knew Frank in elementary school, high school, college, grad school, at NYU as a student, or a colleague or a partner, or a fellow performer if you were his friend, that was a lifetime commitment. He was caring and devoted and made sure his friendship connections remained sturdy and true over the years. He encouraged, challenged and uplifted his friends, just as he did his students. He could be sassy and silly and funny, and elevated sarcasm to a fine art. His mischievous sparkle, generous soul and creative spirit will be sorely missed by the legions who knew and loved Frankie.

Frank leaves behind his brother, John Robert (Joanne), sister Sally (Jerry), Ramiro and Iggy and all his dear friends who loved and supported him throughout his four year battle, nieces and nephews Caitlin, Graham (Shoshana), Rob (Kat), Zach (Pam), Joey (Autumn), cousins Kathy, Andy, Ron (Shawnna), Patti (Jim), Richard (Corky), Jimi (Teresa), Kelly (Lisa), Gail (Karl) and their families. There will be two Celebrations of Frank's life, one in Palm Springs and one in New York. Details to follow.