Eric Schmitz, composer

Eric Schmitz is in his third year of a Doctor of Musical Arts in Jazz Studies and Contemporary Media at Eastman, where he studies jazz composition with Bill Dobbins and jazz drumset with Rich Thompson. His pieces have been performed in Iowa and New York. In addition to music for jazz ensemble Eric has been commissioned to write a piece for English horn and small group, which will be premiered in April. His studio orchestra arrangement of Harold Danko's "For Bud" was named "Best Jazz Arrangement" in Downbeat magazine's 2003 26th Annual Student Music Awards.

© 2005 Russell Scarbrough