Born in Potsdam in 1969. He was descended from a family of musicians. His father, Gustav Schmahl, was one of the most eminent German solo violinists of the post-war period. Before discovering his passion for the trumpet during a concert with Ludwig Guettler at the age of 16, Daniel Schmahl played violin, bassoon and piano and took singing lessons. In 1992 he took up his studies in the subject trumpet at the university of music “Hans Eisler“ in Berlin and received his graduation at the university of music “Franz Liszt” in Weimar in 1998. At the same time, Daniel Schmahl attended several master classes, for instance with Malte Burba, as well as with the ensemble named “German Brass“. In 1999, he made his debut as a soloist: together with members of the “Neubrandenburger Philharmonie” he played the concert for corno da caccia and the orchestra of J. J. Quantz. Since then, Daniel Schmahl has been working successfully as a freelance solo artist.
Within a few years, he managed to become national and international established at the most important music events and concert platforms. Thus, he made for instance a guest appearance at the music event in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the “Oldenburger Promenade“ and at the “Jazz in June“ in Hannover. In December 2004, he gave a highly noticed recital for trumpet and organ in the big hall of the Berlin “Philharmonie” together with Tobias Berndt.
In 2006, his debut album “Back to Bach“ was published, with compositions from the classical period and the romantic period up to tango from Astor Piazzolla and jazz from Miles Davis and Kenny Dorham – being noticeable inspired by the art of the grand master of the baroque age.
Daniel Schmahl sees himself as a border crosser between old music, the early modern age and jazz, who searches for unusual possibilities of interpretation and changes tacks, musically.
