Chris Schmidt is currently the conductor for the Louisville Youth Orchestra Horizons Brass Choir, and he also is the instructor of low brass at Indiana University Southeast. He has been a low brass instructor in the Louisville Metro Area since 2008.

There have been several of his ensembles that have performed at major conferences, including the IUS Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble at the 2023 International EuphoniumTuba Festival, the Youth Performing Arts School Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble at the ITEA Midwest Regional Tuba-Euphonium Conference in 2022, and the Oldham County High School Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble was selected to perform at the 2013 and 2021 KMEA Conference. Several of his private students from various local high schools have earned placements in the Kentucky and Indiana All-State Bands as well as National Honor Bands, including the John Philip Sousa National High School Honor Band.

Schmidt attended the University of Louisville and earned a degree of Master of Music Performance with an emphasis in Wind Ensemble Conducting in May of 2010. While at U of L, he studied conducting with Dr. Fred Speck and tuba with John Jones. 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, 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. Schmidt was the chapter president of the 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, Schmidt taught instrumental music for eight years before beginning a freelance music career which has included solo recitals at the International Euphonium Tuba Festival in 2023 and several appearances as a guest soloist with wind ensembles and brass bands around the Louisville Metro Area. Schmidt’s business CP Schmidt Music, LLC, operates out of Louisville, 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. He also serves as an adjudicator for marching band contests, concert band, and solo and ensemble festivals. Schmidt also performs with Chamber Winds Louisville, the Derby City Brass Band, and the Indiana University Southeast Band and Orchestra.