Kurt Schmid was born in 1942 in Vienna into a family of musicians. In 1963, he graduated with distinction from the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, where he studied clarinet with Prof. Rudolf Jettel. His teachers in conducting included Hans Swarowsky, Walter Koberer, Karl Österreicher, Erwin Ačel, and Seiji Ozawa.

After graduation, he was appointed principal clarinetist of the Tonkünstler Orchestra of Lower Austria, a position he held until 2003.

At the same time, he performed with various ensembles such as the Viennese Concert Schrammel Quartet and the chamber music group Kollegium Viennese, and began composing music.

In 1970, Kurt Schmid began his teaching career. By 1974, he was a lecturer at the Vienna Music Seminar, and in 1980, he received a teaching appointment at the University of Music in Vienna. He regularly conducted masterclasses in Austria, Japan, Korea, and Ukraine.

In 1993, Maestro Schmid was appointed artistic director and conductor of the Vienna Clarinet Orchestra, where he often premiered his own works. In 1995, he became Artistic Vice-President of the Vienna Music Seminar, and in 1996, he was appointed Music Director of the Euro Music Festival in Korea.

In 1997, Kurt Schmid was awarded the professional title of Professor.

In 1998, he founded his own Strauss Gala Orchestra Vienna, with which he toured regularly in Japan and gave concerts in Austria, Spain, Belgium, and other countries.

Since 1999, he served as honorary director and conductor of the Symphony Orchestra of the State Philharmonic in Oradea, Romania, and organized concerts in Japan, Korea, Hungary, and Romania.

In 2001, Maestro Schmid began his concert activities in Ukraine, conducting in cities such as Lviv, Uzhhorod, Chernivtsi, Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Luhansk, Mykolaiv, Kherson, Odesa, Simferopol, Yalta, and others.

In 2002, he became honorary conductor of the Philharmonic Society in Chernivtsi and was appointed artistic director and principal conductor of the Symphony Orchestra of the Luhansk Philharmonic. He also received the Silver Medal of Honor from the City of Vienna.

One of his greatest achievements was the series of Austrian concert tours by the Luhansk Philharmonic Orchestra. Highlights included performances at the Great Hall of the Vienna Konzerthaus, showcasing Ukrainian music and Viennese classics, and a landmark concert in October 2005 at the Golden Hall of the Musikverein, where the orchestra and the choir of the Luhansk National Pedagogical University performed Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. Another major event was a concert tour through Austria featuring Mozart’s Requiem and Ukrainian compositions.

During his time in Luhansk, Maestro Schmid led first-time performances in the region of works such as Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Orff’s Carmina Burana, Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater, and many others.

Since December 2003, he taught at the Luhansk National Pedagogical University. In 2004, he was awarded the honorary doctorate Dr. honoris causa by the university.

In November 2005, he received the Honorary Award of the International Popularity Fund Golden Fortune in Ukraine. In June 2006, he was awarded the Medal of the Third Class “For Significant Contribution to the Cultural Development of Luhansk Region.”

In 2007, his work in Ukraine was recognized with the Order of Merit (Third Class) by the President of Ukraine. That same year, he also received the Honorary Badge “For the Development of Luhansk Region” and the Honorary Badge “For Services to the City of Luhansk.”

In 2010, Kurt Schmid was awarded the Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art, First Class – the highest distinction granted by the Republic of Austria for achievements in science and the arts.

In 2017, he conducted concerts with the Academic Symphony Orchestra of Luhansk in Linz, Salzburg, Grieskirchen, Vienna, and Hollabrunn.

In 2019, a benefit concert featuring his music and texts by Elisabeth and Peter Kotauczek was held in the Mozart Hall of the Vienna Konzerthaus.

That same year, he conducted at Carnegie Hall in New York, presenting Mozart arias, Max Bruch’s Violin Concerto, and the world premiere of Emmanuel M. Dubois’ Requiem for the Fallen.

In 2020, he was elected President of the Vienna Music Seminar.

In 2021, he was appointed Vice-President of the Mozart Society of Lower Austria.

In 2022, he was awarded the Order of the City of Severodonetsk, “In recognition of his artistic achievements with the Academic Symphony Orchestra in the Luhansk region.” That same year, he received the Gold Medal of Distinction from the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna (mdw) for his outstanding contributions to the arts and his ongoing support of Austria’s musical youth.

As a composer, Kurt Schmid created an extraordinary body of work with over 753 compositions, including operas, orchestral pieces, and chamber music. Major highlights include the premiere of his ballet Die Feuerblume at Vienna’s MuseumsQuartier (2007), a benefit concert of his new works at the Hofburg Palace’s Redoutensaal (2008), and the release of the double CD Emotion – Inspiration with Elisabeth Kotauczek at the Minorite Church in Vienna (2010). On October 30, 2011, his oratorio Ode to Life, Op. 450, with texts by Elisabeth Kotauczek, premiered at the Great Hall of the Vienna Konzerthaus. In 2014, his concert fairy tale Pegasus, also with texts by Elisabeth Kotauczek, was published.

Kurt Schmid passed away in Vienna on May 9, 2025.

His artistic legacy lives on – in his music, his students, and the countless lives he touched through his dedication to bringing people joy through music.