After positions with the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Berlin Philharmonic, ten years as principal horn of the Munich Radio Orchestra.
The workshop
When craft becomes art.
From the bell to the valves, every part is made in our own workshop in Mindelzell.
History
From principal horn
to horn maker.
1978
Principal horn in Munich
1980
The first horns
Engelbert Schmid presents his own horns for the first time.
1990
Own workshop in Tiefenried
Now a master craftsman himself, he founds his own manufacturing company and trains his craftsmen himself.
1995
The quality he aimed for
In his own estimation, the workshop reaches the quality he had set out to achieve.
2005
Move to Mindelzell
The new building with its concert hall is occupied; within two years the team grows from 7 to 14 people.
Today
Today: 17 people, one goal
A team of first-class craftsmen builds horns for world-class musicians.
Everything made in-house
The valves outlive the rest of the instrument.
From the bell to the valves, everything is made in our own workshop – with self-developed methods, extremely fine-grained material and a highly sensitive computer measuring system.
- A lot of unnecessary weight
- Sharp corners
- Typical rotary valve slurs
- Leaky valves are usually not worth repairing
- No unnecessary weight, faster action
- Softer curves: 80° less change of direction per valve casing
- Direct connection of valve casings without solder joint
- Acoustically precise passages, better slurs
- Easily exchangeable rotors – practically unlimited lifetime
State of the art 
Innovation Details you can see –
and hear.
Every instrument is, so to speak, signed by hand by Engelbert Schmid personally.
Only about a third of the usual mass – the wreath does not deaden the sound.
Adjustable, comfortable and folds completely inwards.
Craftsmanship with the greatest skill and sensitivity.
Soft, three-dimensional curves and the logic of the layout.
Many manufacturing methods are self-developed and new.
One team.
One philosophy.
Today 17 people work in horn production. Everyone thinks along and perfects their area with their own ideas and fixtures.
Engelbert SchmidFounder
Horn player, horn maker, master craftsman. 1978–1988 principal horn of the Munich Radio Orchestra.
Thomas ZellhuberHead of workshop
DanielaOffice
Answers your emails and calls.
Mindelsaal
A concert hall under the roof.
The building is designed for the next generation: all production on one level, and under the roof a concert hall that is acoustically made for horn music. Here you can test your instrument as in the best halls.
Master class
Mindelzell Horn Days
Four days of lessons with international soloists, all Engelbert Schmid horns to try, free minor repairs and concerts in the Mindelsaal.
Course fee: €395 · incl. 4 nights in rooms for two to four
Dates for 2027 to followKeep me informed
Schedule (example 2026)
Wednesday
12:00 to 13:45 arrival at Engelbert Schmid GmbH, Bellerweg 3, 86513 Mindelzell
14:00 to 18:00 lessons
18:30 dinner in Mindelzell, followed by a lecture by Engelbert Schmid
Thursday
8:30 breakfast
9:30 to 12:30 lessons
12:30 lunch
13:30 to 16:30 lessons
17:00 dinner
18:00 instrument test, followed by rehearsal time for the professors
Friday
8:30 breakfast
9:30 to 12:30 lessons
12:30 lunch
13:30 to 16:30 lessons
17:00 dinner
19:00 public concert by the faculty in the Mindelsaal, which serves as the annual workshop concert of Engelbert Schmid GmbH. More detailed information from January 2026 at www.mindelsaal.de.
Saturday
9:00 breakfast
10:00 to 13:00 lessons
13:00 lunch
14:00 to 17:00 lessons
18:30 dinner
19:30 dress rehearsal for the Sunday matinée in the Mindelsaal
Sunday
8:30 breakfast
9:00 to 10:30 lessons
11:00 public matinée by the students in the Mindelsaal
Teachers
