Department of Music Faculty and Staff

Chris Schmidt, D.M.E., is an Eastman Performing Artist and Instructor of Tuba and Euphonium at Western Kentucky University. He is also on staff as a low brass specialist with the Louisville Youth Wind Symphony, and his teaching and research interests include brass pedagogy, embouchure development, applied studio instruction, and wind ensemble conducting performance.

Dr. Schmidt earned the Doctor of Music Education degree from Liberty University, where his research examined pedagogical approaches to brass embouchure development and applied studio practices. He holds a Master of Music in Performance with an emphasis in Wind Ensemble Conducting from the University of Louisville, where he studied conducting with Dr. Fred Speck and tuba with John Jones. While at Louisville, he appeared as a guest tuba soloist with the University Concert Band, performing James Curnow's Fantasia for Tuba and Band under the direction of Dr. Greg Byrne. He also holds the Bachelor of Music Education and the Master of Arts in Secondary Education from Morehead State University, where he served as principal tuba in the MSU Symphony Band and studied with Dr. Earle Louder, Dr. Stacy Baker, and Dr. Richard Miles.

Dr. Schmidt’s ensembles have been invited to perform at regional, national, and international conferences, including the Indiana University Southeast Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble's performances at the International Euphonium-Tuba Festival from 2023 to 2025 and at the ITEA Midwest Regional Tuba-Euphonium Conference in 2024. Additional ensemble appearances include the Youth Performing Arts School Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble at the 2022 ITEA Midwest Regional Conference and the Oldham County High School Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble at the 2013 and 2021 Kentucky Music Educators Association Conferences.

His students have earned placements in the Kentucky and Indiana All-State Bands and national honor ensembles, including the John Philip Sousa National High School Honor Band. As a performer, Dr. Schmidt has presented solo recitals at the International Euphonium-Tuba Festival from 2023 to 2025 and has appeared regularly as a guest soloist with wind ensembles and brass bands throughout the Louisville, Kentucky, metropolitan area.

Dr. Schmidt is the owner of CP Schmidt Music, LLC, based in Louisville, Kentucky, where he maintains an applied private studio of approximately sixty students and provides marching band drill design and music arrangements for high school and collegiate ensembles. He frequently serves as an adjudicator for marching band competitions, concert band festivals, and solo and ensemble events. His performance affiliations include the WKU and IUS Brass quintets, Chamber Winds Louisville Concert Band, the Derby City Brass Band, and the Indiana University Southeast Band and Orchestra.