Conductor Luis Schmidt Founds The Capella Edina Orchestra

The new ensemble is the first resident orchestra in Edinburgh in 87 years

The young German conductor Luis Schmidt has launched a new symphony orchestra for the city of Edinburgh, Scotland. Named Capella Edina, the orchestra is the first resident professional orchestra in the city since 1937.

The orchestra recently celebrated its launch at an event attended by the Rt Hon Robert Aldridge, Lord Provost for The City of Edinburgh, as well as Christiane Hullmann, Consul General for the Federal Republic of Germany. Edinburgh has a close link with the city of Munich, where Schmidt is originally from.

In its first season, the orchestra will present four concerts, covering repertoire from popular films such as John Williams's Star Wars Suite — as well as Bruckner's Symphony No. 6, Elgar's Enigma Variations, and favorites from both the Viennese and Scottish traditions.

Conductor Luis Schmidt began his musical life at the age of 10, when he began to learn the trumpet at the Klenze-Gymnasium, a grammar school in Munich. He quickly moved on to conducting and established several of his own ensembles, before studying with Bruno Weil in the Hans Swarowsky tradition. Schmidt is currently completing a degree at Newcastle University.

"Together with King’s Singer Chris Bruerton, and fellow conductor Robert Ames, I have founded Capella Edina under the motto, ‘United by Passion for Music’ and this already exemplifies Capella Edina’s mission of bringing people from all different backgrounds together to enrich their lives through music," Schmidt said.

"And service plays an integral role here, for me, as I serve as Capella Edina’s Director of Music and Chairman, but more importantly, Cappella Edina serves the community it is grounded in. We serve the people of Edinburgh."

You can find out more about the orchestra on its website.