William Joseph Schmidt, Jr (March 6, 1926 – April 25, 2009) was an American composer, arranger and publisher of classical music.^[1]

He was born in Chicago, Illinois. He produced a large body of solo and chamber works for neglected woodwind, brass, and percussion instruments, including several pieces for classical saxophone.

According to the Classical Composers Database, "William Schmidt was a student of Ingolf Dahl at the University of Southern California where he earned a Master of Music degree in composition. Throughout his career, he has been the recipient of numerous awards and commissions."^[2] His Double Concerto for Trumpet, Piano and Chamber Orchestra was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in 1981.

Schmidt operated his own publishing company, Western International Music Inc., in Greeley, Colorado.

Recordings

• Mary Ann Covert & Steven Mauk - Tenor Excursions (1995)
• Trio Chromos - Trumpet Colors (2007)

References

External links

• William Scmidt's death notice, published in the New York Times
• The web site of Western International Music, Inc.
• Interview with William Schmidt, October 1, 1987