Ralf Schmid
has studied classical piano, jazz composition and film music in Stuttgart, New York and Los Angeles.

His unique handwriting reflects a strong musical vision beyond stilistic boundaries. He has worked with such diverse artists as Michael Brecker, Whitney Houston, Daniel Hope, Herbie Hancock, Natalie Cole, Ivan Lins, Pee Wee Ellis, the New York Voices, the Danish Radio Big Band, the Budapest Philharmonic, the Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra Los Angeles and many more in major cities all over Europe, the US, Asia, South Africa, Cuba and Brazil.

He released six albums with trumpetist Joo Kraus, among others the ECHO-winning „Painiting Pop“ and the Michael Jackson tribute „Songs from Neverland (#1 in the german jazz charts).

Ralf Schmid conducted the Radio Big Bands of Copenhagen, Hamburg, Berlin, Stuttgart and Frankfurt and produced award-winning albums. Besides his Big Band scoring, he wrote commissioned works for choirs, symphony and chamber orchestras.

His music theater „A distant drum“ was premiered in October 2014 at Carnegie Hall, New York and Bloemfontein, South Africa with violinist Daniel Hope, drummer Jason Marsalis and others. Schmid´s futuristic piano-electro-project pyanook was produced at ZKM Karlsruhe (Center for Art and Media). He performs on two grand pianos using data gloves to morph the piano sound.

Ralf Schmid is professor at the reknown music university of Freiburg, Germany since 2002.