Jon Schmidt
Jon Schmidt | |
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Born | July 9, 1966 |
Origin | Salt Lake City, Utah, United States |
Genres | New-age, pop |
Occupation(s) | Composer, performer, pianist |
Instruments | Piano |
Years active | 1990–present |
Labels | Aubergine Records, Shadow Mountain, JS Productions |
Associated acts | The Piano Guys, Steven Sharp Nelson, Peter Breinholt |
Website | The Piano Guys: Jon Schmidt |
Notable instruments | |
The Piano |
Jon Schmidt (born 1966) is an American pianist currently residing in Bountiful, Utah. He describes his style as "new-age classical."[1] He began songwriting at age 11.[2] To date, he has released eight albums and seven piano books containing transcriptions of original arrangements.
He is currently a member of the musical group The Piano Guys, along with Steven Sharp Nelson.[3]
His work is often described as new-age music with pop elements of hook and melody. His works were also featured on sample discs for the Iomega Hipzip Digital Audio Player with the pieces "Sacred Ground", "All of Me", and "Waterfall". His influences include Mannheim Steamroller, Billy Joel, Chopin, Schubert, and Bach.[4]
Personal life
Jon Schmidt was the fifth of five children. His parents, Werner and Lieselotte Schmidt, were German immigrants who came to the United States after World War II.[4] Schmidt received an early education in music.[2] Schmidt began composing at age 11 and taught piano lessons at age 16.[2]
In college, Schmidt was worried that his music career would not be successful. As a result, he studied English and planned to get an MBA.[2] After people persistently asked him to play the piano for them, he rented a concert hall to perform a concert. It was well-received by the audience, and he abandoned his plans for an MBA. [2]
Schmidt is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.[5] One of his albums is a collection of hymns.[6] Schmidt has also worked with Peter Breinholt in producing music for Especially for Youth.[7]
Schmidt and his wife Michelle have 5 children.[2]
Discography
"Wonders", 2014
- Story of My Life
- Let it Go
- Ants Marching / Ode to Joy
- Father's Eyes
- Kung Fu Piano: Cello Ascends
- Summer Jam
- Batman Evolution
- Don't You Worry Child
- Home
- The Mission / How Great Thou Art
- Because of You
- Pictures at an Exhibition (Excerpt from Promenade)
- Love Story
"The Piano Guys 2", 2013
- Begin Again
- Rockelbel's Canon (Pachelbel Canon in D)
- Mission Impossible
- Lord of the Rings
- Berlin
- All of Me
- Just the Way You Are
- Waterfall
- Charlie Brown Medley
- Me and My Cello (Happy Together)
- Twinkle Lullaby
- More Than Words
- Can't Help Falling in Love
- Begin Again (feat. Megan Nicole & Alex Goot)
- Rock Meets Rachmaninoff
"The Piano Guys", 2012
- Titanium Pavane
- Peponi (Paradise)
- Code Name Vivaldi
- Beethoven's 5 Secrets
- Over the Rainbow Simple Gifts
- Cello Wars (unedited)
- Arwen's Vigil
- Moonlight
- A Thousand Years
- Michael Meets Mozart
- The Cello Song
- Rolling in the Deep
- What Makes You Beautiful
"Hits Volume 1", 2011
- Michael Meets Mozart
- Moonlight
- Without You
- The Cello Song
- Rolling in the Deep
- Cello Wars (Radio Edit)
- O Fortuna
- Bring Him Home
- Charlie Brown Medley
- Rock Meets Rachmaninoff
- All of Me
"Hits Volume 1 Limited Edition", 2011
- Michael Meets Mozart
- Moonlight
- Without You
- The Cello Song
- Rolling in the Deep
- Cello Wars (Radio Edit)
- O Fortuna
- Bring Him Home
- Charlie Brown Medley
- Rock Meets Rachmaninoff
- All of Me
- More Than Words
- Twinkle Lullaby
"Bonus Tracks", 2009, JS Productions
- Love Story meets Viva la Vida (Taylor Swift Remix)
- Long Long Ago (Piano/Cello)
- Jessica's Theme (from The Man from Snowy River)
- Road Trip
- 8:42 at Red Rock Canyon (Verbal Intro)
- 8:42 at Red Rock Canyon
- All of Me (Sut's Fav.) Live
- Dumb Song Live
- Peanuts Medley Live (Linus & Lucy, Track Meet - Vince Guaraldi Cover)
- Death of Dumbledore
- Thank You (For the Heroes)
- The Fishing Stream
- ROCKmaninoff (Prelude in C-sharp minor - Rachmaninoff)
Hymns Without Words, 2006, JS Productions
- For the Beauty of the Earth
- Renaissance Hymn (Let Zion in Her Beauty Rise / Saints Behold How Great Jehovah)
- Baptism Hymn
- A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief
- Our Savior's Love
- Onward Christian Soldiers
- Hymn of Nature (All Creatures of Our God and King)
- Funeral Hymn (Jesus the Very Thought / Tribute)
- That Easter Morn
- O Savior, Thou Who Wearest a Crown
- Behold the Wounds in Jesus' Hands
Winter Serenade, 2004, JS Productions
- In The Bleak Midwinter
- Pachelbel meets U2
- North Pole Express (Ding Dong Merrily On High)
- Wexford Carol
- Still, Still, Still
- First Run
- Winter Serenade (Sussex Carol)
- Deep Winter (Prelude in B-flat minor)
- Last Lullaby (Thomas' Song)
- I Will
To The Summit, 2000, JS Productions
- Prelude (My Little Girl)
- Rush Hour on the Escalante
- To the Summit
- Night Song
- Game Day (Highland Games)
- Air on the "F" String
- Our Song
- I Do
- Can't Help Falling in Love
- Sacred Ground
Jon Schmidt Christmas, 1997, Shadow Mountain
- Were you There?
- Bring A Torch Jeanette Isabella
- Christmas Medley
- Stars Were Gleaming
- I Saw Three Ships
- Star Carol
- It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
- Christmas Morning
- Süsser de Glocken
- Christmas Hymn
- Lo, How a Rose Ere Blooming
- Behold and See
- Gaelic Blessing
- Silent Night
Day in the Sunset, 1994, Aubergine Records
- By Moonlight
- Soaring
- Morning Light
- Care Free
- Going Home
- Solace
- Christopher's Song
- Longing
- Second Variation
- Big Sky Sunset
Walk in the Woods, 1993, Aubergine Records
- Good Times (Class Of '84)
- Waterfall
- Passages
- Winter Wind
- Walk In The Woods
- Hymn of Spring
- Bells of Freedom
- Good Day
- Tribute (Rose-Anne's Song)
- Cherished Moments
August End, 1991, Aubergine Records
- Heart of a Child
- Homecoming
- Nativity
- First Love
- Ridin' West
- August End
- Piece Of The Storm
- All Of Me
- Song Of The Ocean
- Bedtime Story
Singles
- Dumb song (live) - Jon Live in Concert in 2000
- Three songs in 2003 Piano Portraits album by Jon Schmidt, Paul Cardall, David Tolk and Michael R. Hicks:
- 1. My Little Girl
- 7. The Fishing Stream
- 11. Morning Light
- Two songs in 2006 Sacred Cello album by Steven Sharp Nelson:
- 3. Clair De Lune - composed by Claude Debussy
- 8. Rhapsody on the theme of Paganini - composed by Sergei Rachmaninoff, arranged by Jon Schmidt and Steven Sharp Nelson
- One song in 2008 Tender Mercies album by Steven Sharp Nelson:
- 8. New World
References
- ↑ "Jon Schmidt Pianist". Famous Birthdays. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Jon Schmidt". The Piano Guys. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
- ↑ "About The Piano Guys". The Piano Guys. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
- 1 2 Snider, Eric. "Jon Schmidt, New-Age Classical Pianist". Eric D. Snider. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
- ↑ Bloomquist, Jordan. "ThePianoGuys to perform at BYU-Idaho". Scroll BYU-Idaho. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
- ↑ "Hymns without Words". Deseret Books. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
- ↑ "Especially for Youth 2000: Forward with Faith". Deseret Book. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
External links
- Official Site
- KSL's Report on the Musical Identity Theft
- All music profile
- John Schmidt playing "All of Me"
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