‘When I first picked up the viola at twelve, it was an instantaneous, life-altering attraction,’ the TSO’s new violist Karina Schmitz says.
‘Like many viola players, I started on the violin when I was five, but the viola was such a clear reflection of my own voice and vocal range. I fell in love with the silky depth of its sound.’
Hailing from the US, Karina is thrilled to find herself living and performing in what she calls the rich and vibrant scene of Nipaluna / Hobart.
Before moving to Lutruwita / Tasmania, she was principal violist with Pinchgut Opera/Orchestra of the Antipodes in Sydney and the Australian Haydn Ensemble.
She also played regularly with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, the Australian Romantic and Classical Orchestra and Bach Akademie Australia.
Karina arrived in Tasmania in 2025 for ‘what was meant to be a three-month residency’ with Van Diemen’s Band.
Instead of going home at the end of the residency, she and her family decided to make the move permanent.
‘We rescued a gorgeous staffy cross named Benji, and settled in the foothills of Kunanyi / Mount Wellington,’ Karina says.
‘We love being outdoors and exploring nature, and Hobart has the perfect mix of everything we enjoy – hiking, biking, camping, beach combing. And then there’s the incredible food scene and ever-growing collection of craft breweries! I especially love that I run into people I know at the local cafe and grocery store, and I find the sense of community incredibly warm and inviting.’
Hailing from Philadelphia, Karina studied at the New England Conservatory in Boston and Cleveland Institute of Music.
With a passion for historically informed performance, Karina held principal positions with period music ensembles such as the Handel and Haydn Society, Apollo’s Fire, and Tempesta di Mare.
She still returns each year to perform at the Carmel Bach Festival in California.
Outside of music, Karina and her husband Simon enjoy brewing beer.
‘During the pandemic, we seriously contemplated opening a brewpub with a pizza oven,’ she says.
‘Fortunately for us, we were able to return to our music careers, but we still enjoy experimenting with different beer recipes.’
In her spare time, Karina ‘decompresses’ by cooking and baking and she also loves knitting while streaming a movie or podcast.
‘You’ll also see me very happily walking our dog every day around South Hobart and Sandy Bay, and I’m a bit of a Legend of Zelda addict,’ Karina says.
Asked what she loves most about the viola, Karina describes the instrument as ‘the meat in the sandwich’.
‘I love being in the middle of it all, collaborating and listening to how all of the parts interact while the inner voices keep things glued together,’ she says.
‘I feel incredibly lucky that my career is something I love so passionately, and looking back, I’m thankful for how music has enabled me to travel the world and meet and work with some of the most amazing individuals.’
Thanks Karina and welcome to the TSO team!
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