Professor Thomas Schmidt

Thomas Schmidt, who was appointed as a trustee in May 2024, is Professor of Music and Head of the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures at the University of Manchester. Having trained as a music historian in Germany, he came to the UK in 2005, first as a professor at Bangor University and from 2012 at Manchester; also since 2012, he has been resident in York.

He has lectured and published widely on topics from Renaissance vocal polyphony to 19th century German Romanticism (including a textbook on the Sonata), with a particular focus on the life and compositions of Felix Mendelssohn. He is co-editor-in-chief of the new complete edition of Mendelssohn’s works, with editions of the three major symphonies and the concert arias – St. Paul is next.

As a researcher, educator, and higher education manager, Thomas is passionate about making outstanding music accessible to all ages and backgrounds, and as such is delighted to get more involved with the Ryedale Festival which has for a number of years been his and his wife’s high point of the summer in North Yorkshire.