Carl Schmid

Carl was essentially born into music. He began his studies on the violin at 3 years old through the Suzuki Method. Quickly developing a passion for the instrument, he made his Carnegie Hall debut at 13 years old as Principle Violin for the New York Youth Symphony under the tutelage of Dr. Samuel Wong. After 6 performances at the there, he was awarded the Rosengarten String Scholarship, and won the Norman and Sophie Goldblatt Memorial Competition. He attended Eastman School of music, Rochester NY on a full music scholarship to study with noted instructor Charles Castleman.

Following school, Carl moved to Evergreen, Colorado to begin his immersion in improvisational music where he learned Jazz, Blues, Swing, Funk and Country/Southern Rock. Touring, performing and teaching in a number of styles since the late 90's has given Carl an innate ability to read and react to different genres and musicians effortlessly.

He has toured out of South Florida, Atlanta, New Orleans, Los Angeles, Asheville NC and Austin TX. He has shared the stage with the likes of Steven Tyler (Aerosmith), Jason Newsted (Metallica, Chophouse Band), Derek Trucks (Allman Brothers, TTB), Col. Bruce Hampton, Oliver Wood (Wood Brothers), Zydefunk, Zac Brown Band, Johnny Sketch and the Dirty Notes, Crazy Fingers, The Heavy Pets, Grass Is Dead and a host of others.

Stylistically Carl draws on his classical lineage and augments it with pieces of other genres to create a sound that's totally unique. As Col. Bruce Hampton said, "He doesn't play a violin, he doesn't play a fiddle, he plays a Schmiddle."