Prof. Benjamin Schmid

Violin

Mozarteum University Salzburg

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Biography

A truly multifaceted and most versatile of today’s violinists, Viennese-born violinist Benjamin Schmid is renowned for his extraordinarily broad artistic range. In addition to over 75 concertos in his repertoire, he champions works by composers such as Hartmann, Gulda, Korngold, Muthspiel, Szymanowski, Wolf-Ferrari, Lutoslawski and Reger. Schmid also has a successful career in jazz and regularly presents his Hommage à Grappelli programme at jazz venues and classical concert halls alike.
Artistic Director of the Musica Vitae Chamber Orchestra in Sweden since the 2020/21 season, he continues this creative partnership in numerous play/direct projects. Further highlights of the 2021/22 season include appearances with the Mozarteumorchester Salzburg, Naples Philharmonic Orchestra with Andrey Boreyko, Real Filharmonía de Galicia and Juanjo Mena and returns to the MDR Musiksommer and the Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, amongst others.
Benjamin Schmid has a close relationship with the Wiener Philharmoniker and their notable collaborations include the opening concert of the Salzburger Festspiele as well as a performances at Vienna Musikverein and, in 2011, at Schloss Schönbrunn with the Paganini-Kreisler Concerto under the baton of Valery Gergiev, which was broadcast in over 60 countries and released on CD and DVD by Deutsche Grammophon.
He has a discography of over 50 albums, many of which have won critical acclaim and awards including the ECHO Klassik, Gramophone Editor’s Choice and Strad Selection. His recording of Ligeti’s Violin Concerto was named Record of the Month by Gramophone magazine, and his album of Wolf-Ferrari’s Violin Concerto was nominated for the Vierteljahrespreis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik.
Benjamin Schmid won the Carl Flesch International Competition in 1992, where he also received the Mozart, Beethoven and Audience prizes. He holds a professorship at the Mozarteum Salzburg and teaches masterclasses at Hochschule der Künste Bern. He was a member of the jury at the 2017 ARD International Music Competition for violin, and Chairman of the Jury at the 2019 International Leopold Mozart Violin Competition.
Regular collaborations include with conductors such as Seiji Ozawa, Christoph von Dohnányi, Riccardo Chailly, Yuri Temirkanov, John Storgårds and Hannu Lintu, and with orchestras including the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Philharmonia, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, Toronto Symphony Orchestra and Concerto Köln. US engagaments have included the Baltimore and Houston Symphony orchestras, Washington National Symphony Orchestra, Naples Philharmonic and Naples Philharmonic Jazz and Curtis Institute orchestras. In Asia, he appears with the likes of New Japan Philharmonic, Singapore Symphony and at the Hong Kong Festival.
Benjamin Schmid plays the “ex-Viotti” Stradivarius of 1718, on generous loan by the Österreichische Nationalbank.

Course services

At least 4 individual lessons
Piano accompanist — a professional piano accompanist will be provided during the master class and for the performances.
Participant auditions — each participant has the opportunity to perform his / her finished repertoire for any upcoming competitions, concerts or auditions on one of the evenings during the master class. Please contact us for the wished audition by email.
Final concert — the participants of the master class can perform at the final concert after the end of the master class in order to present the program of the master class to the public and perform it publicly. One or another professor, at his discretion, will perform with the participants in duets or chamber music ensembles. The audience will present the Audience Award to the best artist of the concert under the condition, that at least ten visitors, who have purchased a ticket, attend a concert.
Career Advice — the tutor and director will be happy to advise you on topics such as studies, concerts, competitions, scholarships, auditions, management and self-management, and instrument procurement. Please contact us informally by e-mail for that.
Concert events in Berlin for the selected participants — the selected participants of the master class, chosen by the professor and the leadership of the Academy, will soon be offered a solo concert in Berlin. The date will be agreed with the artist.
Audience Award — directly after the final concert, an audience award in the amount of 50% of the entrance fees in cash as well as a certificate will be awarded to the participant selected by the audience under the condition, that at least ten visitors, who have purchased a ticket, attend a concert.
Two scholarships — with twelve or more master class participants, two scholarships in the amount of the participation fee will be awarded to two of the best students selected by the professor and the leadership of the academy after the final concert, including a certificate.

Performance with an orchestra

All participants in Berlin now have the option to perform with a chamber orchestra for the additional price of 490 € – 20 min., 700 € – 30 min. (this price includes a professional multi-angle video recording of your performance with 3 cameras). This option requires the registration of at least three participants so that the concert with chamber orchestra can take place. The decision to hold this concert will be communicated to you immediately after the minimum number of registrations for this option has been reached. Otherwise you will receive a refund for this option. Participation in the master class is not dependent on this option.

Location

BLACKMORE'S – Berlins Musikzimmer
Warmbrunner Str. 52
Berlin, 14193 | Germany

BLACKMORE'S - Berlins Musikzimmer has a chamber music hall and three more classrooms where participants can practice during the master class or longer, except during concerts. The opening hours will be announced in the invitation to the master class together with the schedule.

Accommodation

The closest hotels for the affordable price are:

Hotel St.-Michaels-Heim Enjoy Hotel Berlin Sens City Hotel Albergo Hotel Villa Konstanz Amadeus Hotel Central

Application

REGISTRATION: If you don’t register using our online registration form, please attach the following documents to your application by email or post:
– completed application form
– copy of your passport or ID
– C.V.
– artist photo
– list of the prepared works – your program

Course fees

4 Lessons

649 €

5 Lessons

799 €

6 Lessons

949 €

Passive listener

200 €

Passive listeners have access to all open lessons of the master class, as well as concerts of participants and professors.

Day pass

50 €

Holders of the day pass receive access to all open lessons of the respective master class as well as to the concerts of the participants and professors on the respective day.

With the binding registration, the entire course fee will be charged.

Welcome to the Blackmore International Мusic Academy!