A conservatory-trained cellist with a M.M. degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music and a B.M. degree from Oberlin College Conservatory and over 22 years of experience in classical, folk, jazz, Indie, rock, film scores, among other styles, Mikala sight reads exceptionally well, plays by ear, and is very comfortable improvising parts. Featured on NPR’s “From the Top,” Mikala’s notable collaborations include master classes with Steven Isserlis, Alisa Weilerstein, and Pieter Wispelway. Mikala is available for recording sessions, live performances, and to assist with the development of cello parts for artists that want to include this marvelous instrument in what they are doing!
Beautiful composition of cello and harp for our wedding!
Whole performance was beautiful, and Mikala handled every detail very very well.
Five stars plus on every level. This performance was at our mother’s funeral service. Mikala dressed accordingly, played amazingly, and took the time to personally speak with us prior to her arrival date. Her arrangement could not have been better. I felt guilty I was enjoying her so much. You may think I am exaggerating her performance. I am not. I played cello for sometime and dreamed of being like Yo-Yo Ma. If you closed your eyes you could not have known. She embellished plain church songs to a new level of perfection and just the right classical pieces. I would love her to play at my services one day. It would be an honor to have her there. Mikala, you put angels in the air in every part of our church. I will always be grateful.
It was lovely working with Mikala on the set of our production! She arrives promptly prepared and ready to perform. Her skill level is absolutely superb! Mikala is a wonderful entertainer and a true star on the strings. BOOK HER! :)
I wrote a song for our first grandson born a month ago I wanted a rich sound to help complete the song Mikala added such a lovely piece . I couldn't be more pleased with her work! Writing another song for more grandchildren on the way so hoping to hire her again very soon. Highly recommend!
On time, well-prepared and a delight to work with. Highly recommended. Thanks Mikala!
I hire Mikala Schmitz often to perform for weddings, events, recording sessions and live shows. She's a phenomenal cellist who has a great sensitivity to the music, excellent technique and just a kind warm person. She's also so easy and professional to work with. You won't regret hiring her!
Mikala was patient and coordinated well with other performer that was going to do an acoustic version of Abba Dancing Queen she arranged a beautiful version. Incredibly happy highly recommend recommended her services
Hired her for work multiple times now. She has the X factor you need when hiring a cellist. I've been very impressed with the studio recording sessions I've had with her because of her ability to improvise on the spot effortlessly, her impeccable intonation, and her uplifting personality. You can't go wrong with this cellist :)
Price Range: $600 and up
Languages: English
Unions: AFM
Hailed by San Francisco's Civic Center for her "...professional and highest caliber of playing," Los Angeles-based cellist Mikala Schmitz is an avid performer of many different styles of cello playing. Ms. Schmitz often finds herself crossing over into a variety of musical genres. From Americana folk, to classical, jazz, electronic, and baroque, Mikala continues to find new and fascinating collaborative avenues. Fostering her love for crossover, Ms. Schmitz joined the piano trio TAKE3 in 2019 and has been touring the world with them since then. With a flair for the wild and unexpected, the genre-defying trio, TAKE3, brings the refinement of a rigorous classical music background and infuses it with rock-star charisma.
When not on the road, Ms. Schmitz performs and collaborates regularly with musicians and composers in the Los Angeles area. Mikala's work with the English rock group The Last Shadow Puppets took her all over Europe, playing for sold-out audiences nationally and internationally. Mikala has performed and toured with Tim Robbins and the Rogues Gallery Band, and you can also hear her on television shows such as Netflix's Chef's Table and HBO's The Brink. Ms. Schmitz also worked with Tim Robbins’s and is acting troupe, The Actors’ Gang, on their production of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, as well as an original production, The New Colossus. The international tours made their way through China, Italy, the United States, Brazil, France, and Spain. The score for the production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, co-written by Ms. Schmitz and music director David Robbins, received a 2014 Ovations Honors for Composition for a Play.
Mikala holds a B.M. degree from Oberlin College Conservatory, where she studied cello with Darrett Adkins, as well as baroque cello and viola da gamba with Catharina Meints. Ms. Schmitz also holds a M.M. degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music, where she studied with The Cleveland Orchestra's assistant principal cellist, Richard Weiss, and played with the Case/CIM Baroque Orchestra and the Case Western Reserve Viol Consort. Additionally, Ms. Schmitz has participated in numerous music festivals, including Encore School for Strings, Aspen Music Festival and School, the Tanglewood Music Festival for two summers, and the American Bach Soloists Festival Academy.
| November 22, 2024 • 1:30pm - 3:30pm | Funeral/Memorial Service |
| October 11, 2024 • 2:30pm - 4:00pm | Wedding Ceremony |
| May 05, 2024 • 6:00pm - 7:30pm | Birthday Party |
| March 26, 2024 • 11:00am - 12:00pm | Personal Occasion |
| March 23, 2024 • 6:00pm - 7:00pm | Corporate Event |
| March 18, 2024 • 7:00pm - 9:00pm | Corporate Event |
| October 21, 2023 • 5:00pm - 6:00pm | Wedding Ceremony |
| October 20, 2023 • 7:00pm - 8:00pm | Birthday Party |
| October 19, 2023 • 7:00pm - 8:00pm | Dinner Party |
| October 10, 2023 • 7:00pm - 9:30pm | Campus Event |
| September 22, 2023 • 6:00pm - 9:00pm | Casting Call |
| January 27, 2023 • 8:00am - 6:00pm | Corporate Event |
| March 27, 2022 • 2:00pm - 4:00pm | Funeral/Memorial Service |
| September 12, 2021 • 8:30am - 11:30am | Worship Service |
| September 07, 2021 • 4:00pm - 6:00pm | Studio Session |
| August 04, 2020 • 11:00am - 12:30pm | Studio Session |
| September 25, 2019 • 4:30pm - 6:30pm | Wedding Ceremony |
| November 14, 2018 • 8:00pm - 10:00pm | HoLO @ The LINQ in Vegas |
| September 27, 2018–September 29, 2018 • 8:00pm - 10:00pm | The Madwoman of Chailot @ The Actors' Gang |
| September 20, 2018–September 22, 2018 • 8:00pm - 10:00pm | The Madwoman of Chailot @ The Actors' Gang |
| September 15, 2018 • 3:00pm - 4:00pm | Electric Light Orchestra @ Rockefeller Festival |
| February 23, 2018 • 12:30pm - 1:00pm | Surprise |
| December 01, 2017 • 8:00pm - 10:00pm | Golden State Pops Orch at Royce Hall |
| November 22, 2017 • 12:00pm - 2:00pm | Studio Session |
| November 19, 2017 • 2:00pm - 4:00pm | Kaleidoscope at 1st Pres. Church of Santa Monica |
| November 18, 2017 • 10:00pm - 11:00pm | Kaleidoscope Orchestra Performs at Disney Hall |
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