Christopher Schmitz

Christopher Alan Schmitz is an American composer and winner of the 2007 Sammy Nestico Award in Jazz Composition. He is currently a professor of music theory at Mercer University, having previously taught at Southwestern College in Kansas.

Selected Ensemble Works

 * Suite for MLK (jazz ensemble, in progress)
 * Hugh Smalling (opera + full orchestra, in progress)
 * Lilac Dream (flute choir)
 * "Gloria" (SSA voices + chamber winds)
 * "Gloria" (SSA voices + piano w/ brass solo)
 * "Georgia On My Mind" (SATB a cappella)
 * "Georgia On My Mind" (SSA + jazz rhythm section)
 * Berkshire Fantasy (wind ensemble)
 * Sussurus (jazz ensemble)
 * Walnut Valley March for the Winfield Municipal Band
 * Symphony for Winds and Percussion
 * Frozen Sun (symphonic poem for full orchestra)
 * After Dark for concert choir (SATB)
 * Pine Grove for jazz ensemble
 * Transformation for jazz ensemble (revision)
 * Equilibrium for jazz ensemble
 * "Akerage" for solo tenor saxophone with jazz ensemble

Selected Chamber Works

 * Set of Patriotic Duets (violin and cello)
 * Gentle Light (piano trio)
 * Rhapsody (violin and piano)
 * Five Miniatures (alto saxophone and mallet percussion)
 * Strange Birds (chamber suite for flute, piano and marimba)
 * Through primrose tufts... (string quartet)
 * Out in Front (jazz sextet)
 * Austin-tatious (jazz sextet)
 * Three Lyric Songs (soprano, viola, and harp—texts by Sassoon)
 * Rhapsody (two violas and piano)
 * Palindrome for Anna (mixed chamber winds)
 * Nyxian Progeny (string quartet)
 * Trio for Horn, Violin, and Piano

Selected Solo Works

 * All-State Sight Reading Etudes, Complete Set (Alabama Orch.)
 * Concertino (trumpet and piano)
 * Escape! (solo trumpet + live electronic processing)
 * Arctic Vision (solo clarinet and electro-acoustic soundscape)
 * Organ Toccata for Dr. James Leland
 * Arctic Circle (solo flute and electro-acoustic soundscape)
 * Sonata No. 1 (three movements, solo piano)

Commercial recordings and publications

 * ACE Composers: Ravello Records
 * Irrational Exuberance: Beauport Classical
 * Awaiting the Sun: Beauport Classical
 * Transformation: Sea Breeze
 * Opus Music Publishers: Northfield, IL (sheet music)
 * Cimarron Music Publishers: Salem, CT (sheet music)
 * Walrus Music Publishers: Pismo Beach, CA (sheet music)