Daniel Schmitt
Principal Viola
Daniel joined WASO in 2019
Daniel has been a member of Bayerische Staatsoper Orchestra in Munich and held principal positions with the Royal Flemish Philharmonic and the Royal Opera Orchestra “La Monnaie" in Brussels under the baton of Philippe Herreweghe and Antonio Pappano. He has also appeared as guest principal with the Munich Chamber Orchestra, the Orchestre des Champs Élysées Paris and the Opera Australia Orchestra.
Born in Germany, Daniel began his music studies with violin and piano. He studied viola with Bruno Giuranna at the University of the Arts in Berlin, completing his Master's Degree. His intensive study of chamber music includes lessons with Franco Gulli and Joseph Silverstein.
He was the violist in the Lenos String Quartet, which won the National German Music Competition. He has performed with Lenos throughout Europe and performances have been broadcast on SR Kultur, NDR2 (Germany) and Radio DRS (Switzerland).
As a chamber musician he has performed at numerous festivals in Europe, the UK, South Korea and Japan. In Australia he has appeared at the Melbourne Recital Centre, performing Schumann's Piano Quintet with Emanuel Ax, Wilma Smith, Dale Barltrop and David Berlin.
Daniel Schmitt plays a viola made in 1964 by Otto A. Erdesz in Toronto, Canada.