Tom learned to play organ at age 12, was assisting the church organist at age 13, and by age 15 had his own position as church organist. He pursued his organ and church music studies while an undergraduate at Valparaiso University as a student of Philip Gehring. He also holds a Master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin and D.M.A. from Yale University, both in piano. For 22 years Dr. Schmidt was Professor of Music at Concordia College in Bronxville, NY, where he taught piano, music theory and music history. Since 1990 he has been Director of Music at Saint Peter’s Lutheran Church in New York City, where each week he organizes a Classical Concert Series and gives a noonday organ concert. He has been a featured performer for both the AGO and the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians.