Peter Schmitz


Peter is a songwriter, guitarist and singer, whose styles span the spectrum from classical to rock. He has recently returned to Norfolk after pursuing music in New York City for 17 years. In NYC he worked as a guitarist in a band that played several times a week around the city. The band secured a position in the Music Under New York Program. In addition, he often sang choral music and opera, even having the opportunity to sing in Carnegie Hall. Some of the groups were Brooklyn Repertory Opera, West Side Opera Society (where he sang many roles) , Vocal Productions, and the Camerata Chorus. He was the songwriter and a regular performer in the Global Look local TV program. When in Norfolk, Peter played with the Tidewater Classical Guitar Orchestra and sang as a section leader in the Virginia Symphony Chorus as well as a chorister at the Virginia Opera.

Peter holds a degree in music composition from Virginia Commonwealth University, where hestudied under Dika Newlin, who was one of the last surviving students of Arnold Schoenberg. Peter has been teaching music and ESL for over twenty years.