In conversation with Benjamin Schmid

Early influences:

Two great musicians were of major importance to the musical education of Benjamin Schmid:

Yehudi Menuhin and Stephane Grapppelli.

Benjamin Schmid, Sir Yehudi Menuhin, Stephane Grappelli, Paris 1985

Benjamin Schmid met both musicians in Paris in 1985, when he won the second prize of the "Concours International Yehudi Menuhin" and at the same time the special prize for jazz and improvisation. The latter was awarded to the young musician by Stephane Grappelli himself.
Both, Menuhin and Grappelli gave formative influences to the young musician, each in his special way: One enabled him to play the classical repertoire at the highest level possible, the other one convinced him to understand improvisation as the original and natural manner of making music.
At the age of 14, Schmid enjoyed Menuhin's tuition and later he had the chance to perform with him the Bach double concerto and works by Brahms and Mozart. And of course he benefited from Menhuin's outstanding personality.