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Ralf Schmitt is a South African musician, conductor, composer and arranger. He is a specialist of African choral music, and his arrangements and compositions are regularly broadcast and performed both In South Africa and abroad.

Schmitt has also written and arranged music for corporate events and functions and has composed music for film and television commercials for amongst others M-Net, ESPN and ABC. During the 2010 FIFA World Cup he worked with Shakira on the choral arrangements of the official World Cup Song Waka Waka.

Personal life
Born on 7 March 1982 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Ralf Schmitt is the son of Bodo and Helena Schmitt.

Married to Marguerite] in 2008. She is Director of Music at St Peter's School in Johannesburg' They have two children.

Education
1992 to 1997 - Drakensberg Boys Choir School, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

1998 to 2000 - Kearsney College, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (Matriculated)

2001 - Drakensberg Boys Choir School - student conductor to study choral conducting under Christian Ashley Botha

2002 to 2006 - University of Pretoria (BMus - majoring in Jazz vocals)

Career
2007 to 2017 - Mzansi Youth Choir] - Artistic Director

2010 to 2019 - Die Hoërskool Rustenburg - Choir Director

2007 to present - Roedean School (South Africa) - Choir Director

2009 to present - Ndlovu Youth Choir] - Artistic Director

Schmitt has directed choirs across South Africa, including the Ndlovu Youth Choir.

His productions include Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody by Die Hoërskool Rustenburg and Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah (by Roedean School (South Africa).

Ndlovu Youth Choir
Schmitt is currently the conductor and co-founder of the Ndlovu Youth Choir.

The choir received international recognition with Schmitt's arrangement of a isiZulu version of Ed Sheeran's song Shape of You which featured Grammy Award-winning flautist Wouter Kellerman which went on to win at the Holywood Music in Media Awards.

A performance on a local radio station Jacaranda FM was noticed by the America's Got Talent (season 14) team and the choir was invited to audition for Season 14. Under Schmitt's leadership the choir was the first choir in the history of America's Got Talent to reached the final round, culminating in a record contract with Syco Music.

Ndlovu Youth Choir's first album Africa debuted at number 1 on the South African Charts

Achievements
His arrangements and compositions have featured in international productions including:


 * FIFA World Cup Final (2010, Johannesburg)


 * IYCF (Royal Albert Hall, London)


 * Toronto National Exhibition (Canada)


 * America's Got Talent (Los Angeles)


 * Celtic Festival (Guildhall, London)


 * The New Orleans Jazz Festival (USA)


 * Zimriya Choral Festival (Jerusalem, Israel)

He has also worked on international productions for Josh Groban, Andrea Bocelli, and Celtic Woman.

His field work, transcriptions and arrangements have resulted in the publication of two traditional folk music songbooks.

Schmitt has acted as adjudicator at several international music competitions, and has attended choral festivals and workshops around the world. He has presented interactive workshops on South African music at schools, universities and at festivals in Argentina, Australia, Canada, Germany, Denmark, Tanzania, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the U. S.

His performance highlights include extensive concert tours on five continents, including tours to Argentina, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, UK and USA.

During the FIFA World Cup he shared the stage with Alicia Keys, the Black Eyed Peas, Shakira, John Legend and K'Naan at the Kick-Off Celebration Concert.