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Born: October 13, 1949 - LeMars, Iowa, USA
Died: October 19, 2015 - Narragansett, Rhode Island, USA |
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The American organist, Dennis P. Schmidt, was the son of Ruth E.F. (Hilgeman) Schmidt of Omaha, NE, and the late Rev. Walter K. Schmidt. He was a graduate of Dana College, from which he received the Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1999. He earned his Masters and the Doctorate of Musical Arts degrees in organ performance from the University of Michigan as a student of Marilyn Mason; and a Master of Divinity from Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa.
A talented organist, Dennis Schmidt performed recitals across the USA and also in Europe. His programs included the complete organ works of J.S. Bach. He was an active member of the American Guild of Organists, the Association of Anglican Musicians and a church organist in numerous parishes. He has also presented lectures on various topics at the University of Michigan and at AGO conferences. His two-volume work An Organist's Guide to Resources for the Hymnal 1982 was published by Church Publishing in 1987 and 1991.
Dennis Schmidt has served as a musician at churches and schools in Nebraska, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, New Hampshire, Delaware and Pennsylvania. He was also Artistic and Executive Director of the Bach Festival of Philadelphia from 1993 to 2000. He recorded the complete organ works of J.S. Bach while serving as organist-choirmaster at St. John's Cathedral in Albuquerque, New Mexico during the tercentenary celebration for J.S. Bach in 1984-1985. He served as minister of music at Grace Lutheran Church in Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania. He was also employed in the order entry department at J. W. Pepper and Son in Paoli, Pennsylvania.
Dennis Schmidt died on October 19, 2015 at Rhode Island Hospital. In addition to his wife Susan E. Hoaglund and mother, he leaves behind his beloved daughters, Julia G. S. Hoaglund and Anne Meiliu S. Hoaglund, both of Narragansett. He is the brother of Linda B. Duda of Omaha, Nebraska, Diane Christenson of Marana, Arizona and was predeceased by a brother, David C. Schmidt, of St. Ansgar, Iowa |
