Christopher Alan Schmitz composes for a wide variety of media, including band, orchestra, choir, solo and chamber ensembles, electronic music, and feature film. He has been a professor of music theory and composition at Mercer University since 2013, and prior to that served on the faculty at Southwestern College. Christopher has received numerous commissions from both professional and academic organizations, and has published sheet music with C. Alan Publications, Cimarron Press, Opus Music Publishers, and Walrus Music (jazz). His compositions are recorded and distributed by PARMA, Sea Breeze-Vista, and Beauport Classical, and available through Amazon, iTunes, NAXOS, and others. In 2007, Christopher won the Sammy Nestico Award in jazz composition, resulting in a special commission from the Airmen of Note in Washington, D.C. In 2010, his original composition Rhapsody (for two violas and piano) received its premiere in Carnegie Hall. Christopher’s original scores accompany feature films including Dance with the One (2010 South by Southwest Film Festival Selection) and Between Kings and Queens (REMI Winner, 43rd Annual WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival). He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in composition from the University of Texas at Austin.