Kurt Schmid

**Kurt Schmid** was born in 1942 into a musical family in Vienna, where he studied clarinet under Prof. Rudolf Jettel and composition with notable mentors like Hans Swarowsky at the University of Music. After graduating with distinction in 1963, he became a solo clarinetist for the “Tonkünstler” Orchestra of Lower Austria, a role he held for four decades. Alongside orchestral work, he performed with groups like the “Viennese Concert Schrammel Quartet” and began composing, later leading the Vienna Clarinet Orchestra as artistic director.

A dedicated educator, Schmid started teaching in 1970 and joined the faculty of Vienna’s University of Music in 1980. He also conducted masterclasses globally and held roles like artistic VP of the Vienna Music Seminar and music director of Korea’s Euro Music Festival. Notably, he earned the title “professor” in 1997, cementing his legacy as a versatile musician and mentor.

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