Biography
Chris Schmidt is currently the instructor of low brass at Indiana University
Southeast and has been a low brass instructor in Kentuckiana since 2008. During his
time in the area the Oldham County High School Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble was
selected to perform at the 2013 and 2021 KMEA Conference under his direction. The
Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble from the Youth Performing Arts School in Louisville, KY
also performed at the Midwest Regional Tuba Euphonium Conference in May of 2022
under his direction. Several of his private students students at OCHS and YPAS as well
as a number of other Kentucky schools have earned placements in the KMEA All District
and All State Band as well as numerous honor band and summer camp events under
his guidance. Mr. Schmidt also teaches in Southern Indiana and several of his students
have also made the Indiana High School All State Band and Orchestras.
Mr. Schmidt graduated from the University of Louisville with a Master of Music
Performance in Wind Conducting in May of 2010. While at U of L he studied conducting
with Dr. Fred Speck and tuba with Mr. John Jones. Mr. Schmidt was also a guest tuba
soloist with the University Concert Band when he performed The Fantasia for Tuba and
Band” by James Curnow under the direction of Dr. Greg Byrne. Prior to his time at
Louisville Mr. Schmidt attended Morehead State University where he held the position of
Principal Tuba in the MSU Symphony Band and earned two degrees, a Bachelor of
Music Education and a Master of Arts in Secondary Education. Mr. Schmidt was the
chapter president of ITEA (International Tuba Euphonium Association). He was also
awarded placements on the MSU Dean’s List, the KY Intercollegiate Band, the CBDNA
Southern Division Intercollegiate Band, and the Lexington Brass Band. His primary
teachers at MSU included euphonium virtuoso Dr. Earle Louder and tuba professor Dr.
Stacy Baker as well as wind band conducting lessons with Dr. Richard Miles. After
graduating from MSU, Mr. Schmidt taught instrumental music for eight years in the
Meade County, Owensboro and Scott County School Districts. In each of those eight
years his concert bands received Distinguished Ratings at the KMEA Concert Band
Assessment and his marching bands advanced to the KMEA Marching Band Semifinals.
In the marching band world he operates his own company CP Schmidt Music, LLC out
of Louisville, KY where he operates a studio with sixty private students and creates
marching band drill designs and music arrangements for several high school and
college band programs since 2008.He also serves as an adjudicator for marching band
contests, concert band, and solo and ensemble festivals in KY, TN, and IN. As a low
brass musician Mr. Schmidt performs with Chamber Winds Louisville, Commonwealth
Brass Band and the Indiana University Southeast Band and Orchestra
