Biography:

 

Erin Schmidt hails from Darke County, Ohio, a rural farming area northwest of Dayton, Ohio.  She received her Bachelor of Music in Horn Performance from the University of Dayton (OH), and her Master of Music in Horn Performance from the University of Miami (FL).  Following graduation from the University of Miami, Erin won the Principal Horn position with the Billings (MT) Symphony Orchestra.  She served as Principal Horn for 4 years, and while in Billings, was an Adjunct Instructor of Horn at Montana State University-Billings and Rocky Mountain College.  In 2002, while still Principal Horn of the Billings Symphony Orchestra, Erin served as the Acting Principal Horn with the Spokane Symphony.  Beginning in August 2003, she became the Principal Horn of the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra and is the Consortium Instructor of Horn at the University of Evansville.  Erin plays a Yamaha 867GD.

 

Erin’s interest in music started when she was very young.  She often tagged along with her mom to adult church choir practice because she really loved to sing.  At the age of 3, she began taking piano lessons. 

 

Showing an early interest in music – 13 mo. old

 

In 5^th grade when it was time to select an instrument, Erin chose the flute because that is the instrument her mom played, and they already owned a flute.  She played flute through 7^th grade but wasn’t enjoying the instrument.  For a while, Erin seriously contemplated quitting music, but starting looking around the band.  She began to think it would be very cool to play the trumpet.  Soon after, the middle school band director announced in class that she had too many flutes, and was wondering if anyone wanted to switch instruments.  Erin couldn’t believe the good fortune, and immediately raised her hand.  After class the director asked which instrument Erin wanted to play.  Erin said, “I really want to play the trumpet.”  The director replied that there were already enough trumpets, how about the horn?  Erin agreed to try it out, was given two lessons on fingerings and was on her own.  Erin continued to play the horn through high school, and was introduced to symphonic music by her high school band director.  Even though the high school she attended was small and didn’t have an orchestra, Erin dreamed of playing in an orchestra some day. 

 

Erin often shares this story with school-aged children to show that if a child is playing an instrument or doing a sport or other activity they really aren’t enjoying, they should talk with their parents, director or coach.  Erin almost quit because she didn’t know that she should tell her director that she wanted to try something different.  Erin is thankful for the opportunity that her middle school band director gave her, and thankful for a high school band director who opened up a new world of symphonic music.