Steve Schmidt to retire after more than three decades with Rochester Civic Music

Longtime Civic Music leader Steve Schmidt is retiring this September after more than 32 years of service, the city announced Tuesday.

Schmidt first joined the city in 1989, serving as artistic director of Civic Music before eventually becoming the department’s general manager. Under his leadership, Civic Music brought programming like Downtown by the Riverside, which has served more than 1 million concert-goers with acts like Kansas, the Wailers, Eric Church, and George Thorogood.

In a written statement, Schmidt called leading the city’s music programming “one of the great joys” of his life.

“I am grateful to have had the opportunity to serve audiences and artists alike, to delight constituents with music both familiar and new, and to work with the talented and dedicated ensemble that is Team Civic Music and the Civic Music Board,” said Schmidt.

In recent years, Civic Music has expanded its programming with the introduction of the forWARD neighborhood concert series. Other programming championed by Schmidt includes Riverside Live!, Global Music, Artists-in-the-Schools, and Live from Med City. 

“I want to thank Steven Schmidt for his commitment to the organization and community over the past 32 years,” said City Administrator Alison Zelms. “We celebrate what Civic Music has achieved under his leadership and wish him the best as he takes this step to enjoy retirement. In the coming weeks and months we will work with Steve, his team and others to ensure Rochester residents and visitors continue to have access to offerings as we reinvent once again how to provide programming in the future.”

Schmidt is the recipient of a Sally Irvine Ordway award for Commitment, recognizing lifetime achievement, contribution and leadership in the arts and/or culture. In addition to his role directing programming for Civic Music, Schmidt also records and performs music of his own.

Cover photo: Steve Schmidt / submitted