Schmidt attended the Vienna Conservatory and also studied piano and cello in private lessons. His professional career began with a position as cellist with the Vienna Court Opera orchestra. He also began teaching during this period and served at the Gesellschaft der Musikfreude, the Vienna Staatsakademie and at the Musikhochschule. His compositions contain Hungarian and Slovak elements and are richly harmonic. Mahler and Hindemith are among the composers he looked to for inspiration. His opera Notre Dame was responsible for Schmidt coming to the attention of the international music community. ~ Lynn Vought, All Music Guide