Cellist Niklas Schmidt began studies in Hamburg. He later worked with the Amadeus Quartet, and was a regular guest at the Gstaad Menuhin Academy. He was also a founding member of the internationally acclaimed Trio Fontenay, which recorded virtually the complete piano trio literature for the Teldec, EMI and Philips labels, with most of its recordings receiving international awards such as the Diapason d’Or and the German Record Critics’ Award (for its recordings of the complete Beethoven Trios).

Schmidt has also recorded the Beethoven Triple Concerto with the Philharmonia Orchestra, cello sonatas by Schubert, Strauss, and Rachmaninov, preludes by Moscheles, and most recently, all of Bach’s solo cello suites.

He has been a juror at international competitions in Hamburg, Melbourne, Reggio Emilia (Borciani), Vienna and Lyon, and most recently chaired the Mendelssohn Competition in Berlin. He is also director of the International Mendelssohn Festival (IMF) in Hamburg.

Schmidt has been professor of violoncello and chamber music in Hamburg since 1987.

www.niklasschmidt.com