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Urs Schneider was born in St. Gallen, Switzerland on May 16, 1939. At the age of 15, he founded his own orchestra, the 70 member Pro Musica Orchestra, which regulary presented concerts in Switzerland until 1963. Mr. Schneider studied at the Conservatory and Academy of Zurich, concentrating on the violin and took his M.A. in 1961. He studied conducting with Rafael Kubelik in Lucerne, with Igor Markevitch in Madrid and with Otto Klemperer in London and Zurich.
In 1962 Mr. Schneider founded the Ostschweizer Kammerorchester/Camerata Helvetica, of which he continued to be the Conductor and Music Director until 2016. The Camerata Helvetica was founded for a threefold purpose: 1° to present and promote young musicians, 2° to perform music by Swiss composers and 3° unknown works by well-known composers of all periods. Numerous tours in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Italy, Greece, France, Spain, Belgium, Holland, Poland and Czech Republic. Radio-TV-CD-LP-Recordings. Many worldpremieres.
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In 1962 Urs Schneider received his first invitation to conduct in the U.S.A. and thus began his highly successful international career as conductor which has taken him to America (North and South), all the countries of Europe, South Africa, Asia, Australia, Israel and the former USSR, leading world-famous orchestras. From 1967-1983, he was Music Director of the Camerata Stuttgart (with concerts in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, France and England). 1967-1968 saw him as conductor of the Shreveport Symphony and Opera Society (USA).
From 1971-1973, he was unanimously elected Music Director of the Camerata Academica Salzburg, succeeding Bernhard Paumgartner.1982-1986 Urs Schneider was the Chiefconductor and Music Director of the Haifa Symphony Orchestra.
1986-1992 conductor of the - Prague Chamber Soloists and 1990-1992 Chiefconductor of the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra. He has conducted about 160 major orchestras and opera companies in over 4000 performances.
Mr. Schneider was a member of the jury at conducting competitions such as Besançon, Bucharest, Taiwan, Israel, New York. In 1999 he became president of the Swiss jury for the Grand Prix Eurovision of young musicians.
Numerous radio and TV recordings all over the world as well as over 50 LP and CD recordings.
Mr. Schneider was awarded the Cultural Prize of the City of St.Gallen in 1967, the M.A.I. (Master of Fine Arts International) in 1969 in New York, and a certificate of merit by Cambridge University in the U.K. in 1971.
His biographical data are available in "Dictionary of International Biography", "Five Thousend Personalities of the World", "International Who's Who of Contemporary Achievement", "International Who's Who of Intellectuals", "International Who's Who of Music", "Men of Achievement" and "Schweizerische Musiklexikon", "Who's who in the World", "The Contemporary Who's Who" and "International Music Directory".
Yehudi Menuhin "Urs Schneider is a conductor of great experience. He has conducted
excellent orchestras all over the world -from Russia to Australia and
Taiwan inbetween.
He has conducted in London and worked a great deal building orchestras
up from inexperience, or from young ages, to excellent ensembles. He
deserves recogniton and support."
Otto Klemperer "Urs schneider is highly talented, and despite his youth, extremly
experienced. He will attain only honors, and is headed for a highly
successful career. "
Rafael Kubelik "I know Mr. Urs Schneider as a very gifted young conductor. He is an
outstanding musician and has equally impressive human qualities. His
technique is marvellous and also he presents musically a highly mature
personality. He has also conducted the Symphony Orchestra of the
Bavarian Radio for several times. His approach to music is on a high
standart and his success which he so far earned predestines him to
continue oh the highest level."
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