Born in 1964 in Landau/Pfalz, Germany, studied classical flute at the The Cologne University of Music and, with a scholarship, studied jazz improvisation and composition/arrangement at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, USA. He was awarded 1st prize at the “Berklee Concerto Competition 1993.” His style displays a well-founded knowledge of jazz styles as well as high technical and tonal perfection and the use of circular breathing. He teaches at the Unniversity of his hometown Landau.
Günther Johannes Schmitz works as freelance musician either on stage or in the studio with flute, piccolo, didgeridoo, bansuri, dizi, shakuhachi and some hybrid flute instruments. He is also a composer in many styles between jazz, classical and world music and released some of his works for flute and piano recently at Schott Music.
Press:
„Günther Johannes Schmitz, a fabulous flutist, whose doubtless classically trained dexterity is certainly worthy of any concert stage. Nonetheless, his long improvisational breathing, virtually predestines him for the field of jazz.“
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