Quick Facts
Biography
Elmar Schmid (born 1947 Binn Wallis, Switzerland) is a Swiss clarinetist. He studied in Zurich with Professors Marcel Wahlich, Hansjörg Leuthold and, in Berlin, with Karl Leister.
He is currently Professor of Clarinet and Chamber Music at the Zurich School of Music where he also carries out an intense professional artistic activity.
His ample musical interests concentrate his dedication on New Music and original Folkloric music. He is musical Director of the 'Oberwalliser Spillit' ensemble, for which the composer Heinz Holliger has written 'Alb Cher'. In 1999 Jürg Wittenbach dedicated to this musical ensemble his composition 'Gragantua chez les Helvètes du Haut-Wallais' (Scenes on Rabelais). He was a part of Collegium Novum Zürich.
He is married to the clarinetist Sabine Gertschen; they have two children.