Multi-Talented Edie Schmoll is ACM Artist of the Month

By Shawnees Peacock
MSJC Student Journalist

Describing local pianist, music educator, writer and painter Edie Schmoll as a dedicated and hardworking woman is an understatement. Schmoll, the Arts Council Menifee Artist of the Month, is talented on many levels.

Schmoll began taking piano lessons at 13 in her hometown of Boston and gained a tremendous amount of knowledge about playing classical music. She continued to refine her piano skills for many years, including most recently classes here in Menifee.

“Music is my forte,” said Schmoll. “I’ve been playing the piano and organ off and on for many years.”

At 16, she performed in her first recital in front of a crowd of 200. That is also the age at which she began one of her many careers as a music educator. She has had over 200 private students and still teaches piano, organ and accordion.

“I like teaching music; it’s fun,” says Schmoll. “My students are like my family.”

Schmoll shares her musical talents throughout the community by working as a performer and composer. She entertains several times a year at many local hospitals, convalescent centers and retirement centers. Last month, she performed piano selections during Arts Council Menifee’s Gallery Reception.

She has also performed at several churches in the area. At Trinity Lutheran Church in Hemet, she debuted her original hymn titled “Now the Lord Said (My Will Be Done)" as part of a church service in 2009.

In an effort to be a well-rounded artist, Schmoll is now a visual and literary artist as well.

Her beginnings with oil and pastel painting occurred four years ago following the loss of her husband. Her paintings emit the same level of passion she has for her other artistic endeavors, the only difference being in the senses involved. Schmoll’s lively, colorful and impressionistic style of artwork is the main reason she was nominated in 2011 for the prestigious National Artwork Award by the group American Mensa for a piece titled “Glow”.

Schmoll has also been writing for 10 years and has published articles in several online magazines. After taking one semester of creative writing at a community college, she won a National Poetry Award from American Mensa in 2008 for her poem titled “And Now” and became a contributing writer and resident poet for Inland Empire Mensa.

She is also the author of four books: “A Crime Against One Person: HMO Nightmare” (2010), “Serenade: Word Songs” (2011), “Rain and Rainbows: Short Story Collection” (2011), and “Holly, The Christmas Tree Fairy” (2012). She is currently composing a new book containing a collection of “Music Songs” for piano and vocal, which will be published sometime this year.

Schmoll says her success at juggling all of her professional and artistic commitments is due to her dedication to continue learning and growing.

“Anyone who has retired should do volunteer work to help themselves and others,” she says. “Everyone should keep learning and trying new things.”

For more information on Edie Schmoll, other Arts Council Menifee Artists of the Month and various Arts Council Menifee activities, visit www.artscouncilmenifee.org