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The German harpsichordist, pianist and conductor, Carsten Schmidt, graduated (Artist Diploma) with distinction from the Folkwang Institute in Germany, and subsequently received an Artist Diploma from Indiana University and a doctorate from Yale University. Among his teachers are pianists Claude Frank and Leonard Hokanson and harpsichordist Richard Rephann.
Carsten Schmidt made his professional debut with the Essen Philharmonic in Germany in 1984. He has performed extensively, both as a pianist and harpsichordist, as as soloist, chamber musician, and soloist with orchestras throughout Europe, North America, and Japan. He has appeared at such venues as the German Mozart Festival, Ravinia Festival in Chicago, International Schubert Festival in Amsterdam, Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, Merkin and Weill Recital Halls in New York City, Moscow Conservatory, Kuhmo Festival in Finland, as well as in broadcasts worldwide. His repertoire ranges from the Renaissance and early Baroque to the music of today, including more than 100 premieres and numerous master-classes, lectures, and workshops at educational and research institutions. Special interests include: keyboard literature and performance practices, early keyboard instruments, and the interaction of poetry and music in song repertoire. Since 2003 he has also been increasingly active as a conductor, leading productions of operas by George Frideric Handel and Purcell, and orchestral repertoire ranging from Marais to Gustav Mahler.
Since 1998 he has been Professor of Music at Sarah Lawrence College (SLC) in New York. Since 1998, he has been Artistic Director of Staunton Music Festival (SMF) in Virginia; former artistic director, International Schubert Festival, Amsterdam; research fellow, Newberry Library; fellow, German National Scholarship Foundation. |
