Carl Schmidt is Head of the Piano Department and is Course Coordinator for Certificate IV in Music and Diploma of Music Accredited Courses at Central Coast Conservatorium. He holds a 1st Class Bachelor of Music from Sydney Conservatorium of Music. In 2005 Carl was awarded a Masters Degree in Piano Performance from the Royal Conservatory of The Netherlands. Whilst living in Europe, Carl gave regular performances and was invited to appear in the 2004 International Chopin Festival held in The Hague and with Steve Reich during the 2003 Steve Reich Festival. He has recorded the complete Chopin Preludes and the Brahms Fantasien Opus 116 and has been soloist with the Central Coast Symphony Orchestra, Balmain Sinfonia and Sydney Youth Orchestra. He was a recitalist for the Sydney Conservatorium's Virtuoso Piano Series and was a lecturer and performer at the 2008 Summer Piano Teachers' Festival. Carl is also in demand as a recitalist, accompanist and chamber musician, collaborating most recently with duo partner, violinist Karina Moss-Hollands. He has given numerous Workshops, Recitals and Master Classes for the NSW Music Teachers' Association and for other musical organisations state-wide. Carl is also an examiner for the Australian Music Examination Board (AMEB).