Erik Šmid is a dedicated conductor and music educator currently serving as a music professor and choir director at Gimnazija Kranj in Slovenia, as well as a teaching assistant in music education subjects at the University of Ljubljana Academy of Music. His journey in music started at a young age, learning piano under prof. Petar Milić and receiving vocal training from mag. Francka Šenk at the Kranj Music School. Erik continued his academic pursuits at the Academy of Music in Ljubljana, where he graduated in 2014 with a degree in Music Education. In 2016, he completed his master’s studies, presenting a well-received master’s concert titled Sacred Music in the Habsburg Lands, supervised by Prof. Marko Vatovec. The concert, featuring an ensemble performance of 17th and 18th-century composers with the Chamber Choir and Chamber Orchestra of Academy of Music, earned him the distinction of a diploma summa cum laude. Erik is currently a doctoral student at the same institution, researching the area of choral music.
During his educational journey, Erik has honed his skills by participating in masterclasses and workshops led by renowned conductors and vocal pedagogues, such as Brady R. Allred, Gary Graden, Helena Alice Lootens, Martina Batič, Māris Sirmais, and Ian Honeyman, among others. Erik’s professional focus primarily lies in choral music. He initially collaborated as a singer and accompanist with various Slovenian choirs, including St. Nicholas Choir Litija, Chamber Choir Mysterium, Salt Lake Choral Artists, and several ensembles within the Academy of Music. During his student years, he assumed artistic direction for multiple choirs, including the Women’s Choir Mens Sonora, St. Stanislav Student Choir, and the Mixed Youth Choir of Gimnazija Kranj.
Since 2016, Erik has been actively involved in music education and choir directing at Gimnazija Kranj. He currently leads several groups, including the Gimnazija Kranj Girls’ Choir, the Academic Choir France Prešeren Kranj, and the Vocal group Lipa Litija. His choirs are known for their homogeneous choral sound, nuanced interpretations, and diverse repertoire. They have performed extensively both domestically and internationally, garnering numerous awards. Most notably, Erik has received a plethora of gold recognitions at international competitions, particularly with the Gimnazija Kranj Girls’ Choir and Academic Choir France Prešeren Kranj. Among the significant competitions are Young Bohemia Prague 2017, Aegis Carminis 2019, XXX. Concorso Internazionale di Canto Corale Verona 2019, Zlatna Lipa Tuhlja 2021, World Choir Games 2021, Bratislava Spring Music Festival 2023, slovenian national competition Naša pesem 2024, 72th 72nd European Music Festival for Young People (EMJ) Neerpelt 2024 and others.
In recognition of his exemplary work, Erik has been honored with several special awards, including most promising young conductor at Aegis Carminis 2019, and best conductor at the Verona International Choral Competition 2019. Furthermore, he was named best debut conductor at the Regional Children and Youth Choir Competition in 2023 and National Youth Choir Competition in 2024.
HONORS & AWARDS
1st prize with 96.64 points in the mixed choir category, 1st prize with 95.29 points in the sacred music category, and the Čestimir Mirko Dušek Special Award for Best Conductor at the 11th International Choir Championship “Lege Artis” 2026 in Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina, with Academic Choir France Prešeren Kranj
Gold award with distinction, award for the best girls’ choir of the competition, and special conductor’s award for the best programme selection at the 28th National Competition of Youth Choirs (2026) with Gimnazija Kranj Girls’ Choir
Gold award with distinction, award for the best performance of a contemporary original Slovenian composition, award for the best performance of a contemporary composition composed from 20th century to the present, award for the best performance of a Slovenian folk song, award for the best choir of the regional competition, and conductor’s award for best programme selection at the Regional Competition of Adult Choirs 2025 with Academic Choir France Prešeren Kranj
- Gold level diploma, second place in category habaneras and second place in category poliphony at the 72. Certamen coral internacional habaneras y polifonía de Torrevieja 2025 with Academic Choir France Prešeren Kranj
Gold level diploma and special conductors’ prize for exceptional artistic presentation at international choir competition Istria Cantat 2025 in Pula (Croatia) with Gimnazija Kranj Girls’ Choir
1st prize summa cum laude at the 72nd European Music Festival for Young People (EMJ) Neerpelt 2024 with Gimnazija Kranj Girls’ Choir
Gold award with distinction, award for the best choir of the competition (ex-aequo), and special award for the best debutant choir conductor at the 27th National Competition of Youth Choirs (2024) with Gimnazija Kranj Girls’ Choir
Gold level diploma at the 28th National Choir Competition Naša pesem 2024 with Academic Choir France Prešeren Kranj
Gold award with distinction, award for the best performance of a contemporary original Slovenian composition, award for the best choir of the regional competition, and award for a promising choir conductor at the Regional Competition of Adult Choirs 2023 with Academic Choir France Prešeren Kranj
Gold award with distinction, award for best group of the regional competition at the Regional Competition of Adult Choirs 2023 with Vocal Group Lipa Litija
Gold award with distinction, award for outstanding performance of A. Lajovic’s “Pesem deklice”, and award for the best debutant conductor at the Regional Competition of Children’s and Youth Choirs 2023 with Gimnazija Kranj Girls’ Choir
Gold level diploma in the mixed choir category and gold level diploma in the folk music category at the international choir competition Venezia in Musica 2023 with Academic Choir France Prešeren Kranj
Gold level diploma at the international choir competition Bratislava Spring Music Festival 2023 with Gimnazija Kranj Girls’ Choir
Gold level diploma at the international choir competition Zlatna Lipa Tuhlja 2022 with Academic Choir France Prešeren Kranj
Diploma with the highest mark, “excellent”, in the virtual part of the World Choir Games 2021 with Gimnazija Kranj Girls’ Choir
Gold level diploma and Grand Prix Award at the international choir competition Zlatna Lipa Tuhlja 2021 with Gimnazija Kranj Girls’ Choir
Gold level diploma and Grand Prix Award at the international choir competition Zlatna Lipa Tuhlja 2019 with Male Choir Cantores Carnioli
Best conductor award at the international choir competition XXX. concorso internazionale di canto corale Verona 2019
Gold level diploma at the international choir competition XXX. concorso internazionale di canto corale Verona 2019 with Gimnazija Kranj Girls’ Choir
Best young conductor award at the international choral competition Aegis carminis 2019
Gold level diploma at the international choir competition Aegis carminis 2019 with Gimnazija Kranj Girls’ Choir
Gold level diploma at the international choir competition Young Bohemia Prague 2018 with St. Stanislav Students’ Choir
Gold level diploma at the international choir competition Young Bohemia Prague 2017 with Gimnazija Kranj Girls’ Choir
Diploma summa cum laude for the Master’s Degree concert “Sacred Music in the Habsburg Lands” with Academy of Music Chamber Choir, Academy of Music Chamber Orchestra, and vocal soloists, issued by the Academy of Music, University of Ljubljana
Copyright © 2026 by Umetniško uprizarjanje, Erik Šmid, s.p.