Today we’d like to introduce you to Theo Schmitt.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
When I relocated from Switzerland to Los Angeles in 2019 to study composition at UCLA, I was struck by the diversity in the music scenery and the limitless creative potential that this city holds. This was the same moment I was struck with the idea of creating a composer collective that promotes positive and optimistic projects, accessibility to the medium of orchestral music, and the “social” experience of performances. Especially now that music is being so “digitalized”. That is why I created THE UNPRECEDENTED MUSIC ASSOCIATION (UMA) with 6 others young and talented composers. Together, we see an unfilled space for music in LA that blends the lines between genres and creates music for all listeners, while creating a supportive community in a very competitive industry. Therefore, UMA seeks to create that space for the up-and-coming generation of composers, musicians, and music-loving audiences of all kinds.
We put on our very first concert “Change in Motion” on November 2024, our second one “STARDUST” on March 2025, and we will have our very first orchestral concert “IMPACT” on May 23 at the Aratani Theatre. Join us for this unique musical event!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I am not going to lie, running a new music non-profit is not an easy task. As a composer, I have never learned the administrative side of it, but I’m learning fast. I also have a fantastic team helping me. The timing of launching UMA was also tricky. I’ve obviously waited for the COVID pandemic to end before doing it, but now with the aftermath of the wildfires, the struggles of the LA-based movie industry, and the economic uncertainty of our times, things are not easier in terms of funding. However the reactions towards our mission have been tremendously enthousiastic, and it motivates us to move forward no matter what it takes.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Many orchestras and music ensembles champion new music and new composers as part of their program and concert season. At UMA, new music isn’t a quota – it’s the whole program. Our ensemble is unique in that the overwhelming majority of our repertoire comes from underrepresented composers in Los Angeles. This means more world premieres, more possibilities for composers, and the newest music there is. As an organization founded by a collective of working musicians, UMA has a central commitment to creating community and opportunity for a city-wide cohort of composers.
This also includes educational outreach, programs for artist development, and of course, concert experiences rooted in real-world accessibility and diversity on every conceivable spectrum.
In a world driven by profit and consumerism, we want to promote artists who have something to say about our time. The overload of music in the digital age and the decline of new, live orchestral music can result in a more generic soundscape, and we want to fight that movement. We want to continue to reflect modern experiences and sentiments, and we want them to be spoken by people living in the modern world, of all ages, backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. We make new music heard because this is the essence of music. We aim to offer an amazing concert experience, something people will remember, because it is new, unexpected, mind-opening, and – one might even say – Unprecedented.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
UMA’s founding members are all working composers in Los Angeles, each gravitating towards LA’s unparalleled creative and collaborative environment. In many ways, UMA is a product of LA’s creative spirit and the simultaneous challenges that artists face, particularly post-COVID. Therefore, UMA is uniquely poised to serve the artistic ecosystem in Los Angeles.
Additionally, as Los Angeles is home to Hollywood, there is a clear precedent for a composer network serving the music and entertainment industry. While UMA is intent on recognizing film scores as some of the most popular and accessible orchestral music, UMA aims to provide exciting alternative creative outlets, addressing the ambitions of LA composers outside of Hollywood.
The gigantic size of this city can be challenging to create a sens of community. But at UMA we like challenges. And we need the feeling of belonging more than ever.
Pricing:
- Student tickets $15
- General Admission $30
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.umamusic.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unprecedentedmusic/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unprecedented-music-association/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@UnprecedentedMusic
- Other: https://www.umamusic.org/event-details/impact
Image Credits
Diane Torrence
Erica Hou
