Jon Schmidt
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Jon Schmidt (born 1966) is an American New Age Classical pianist located in Salt Lake City. Born to German immigrants who trained him in the masters, such as Beethoven, Mozart, and Chopin. He began songwriting at age 11. To date, he has released seven albums and seven piano books containing transcriptions of original arrangements.
His work is often described as a combination of the magical stylings of Classical and New Age music with pop elements of hook and melody. He is also noted for his treatment of harmony, counterpoint, and rhythm. Orchestration is used occasionally to highlight his piano arrangements. 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"
Jon's influences include Mannheim Steamroller, Billy Joel, and Beethoven.
Jon is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
[edit] Musical Identity Theft
In 2006, it was reported that a Louisiana college student was claiming Jon Schmidt's music as his own. Heath Vercher, took Jon's "August End" album, renamed it "Words Often Fail", renamed all of the tracks, and began selling the CDs. An online podcaster's blog, Sunday Sundown has a complete track listing for these CDs. Heath also learned Jon's music and performed his own concerts for audiences. He also tweaked Jon's biography, eliminating stuff from it that he (Heath) couldn't do, such as a backflip.
Jon Schmidt's lawyer and manager contacted Vercher about the piracy, and he promised not to continue. Carl Sandquist, Jon's Manager, was quoted on a Salt Lake City television station, KSL, as saying, "He did say he was sorry. He says he's not sure why he did it, but he did it. But he was fully cooperative after we confronted him on it." Vercher has since changed his website and stopped selling Jon's music.
[edit] Discography
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
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
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
Jon Schmidt Christmas, 1997, Shadow Mountain
- Were you There?
- Bring A Touch Janette 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
To The Summit, 2000, JSP 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
Winter Serenade, 2004, JSP 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)
Hymns Without Words, 2006, JSP 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
