Ralf Schmitt is a freelance conductor, composer, and music producer, who is choirmaster at a law firm. This, he tells Margaret Harris, helps employees from different departments interact with each other. What is your job?A choirmaster primarily transforms individual voices into a homogenous group of singers. At law firm Norton Rose Fulbright, we have choristers from all levels of the company, and my job is to create a fun yet focused environment. It is important that, through the medium of music, employees can interact across the traditional boundaries that may occur in the workplace.At present, we are performing internally only, but are eager to perform to a wider audience.How did you find yourself where you are today?I was introduced to Norton Rose Fulbright by the renowned conductor Richard Cock, who founded the choir. As multilevel corporate singing in South Africa is very rare, I had no experience of this.story_article_left1What we do at Norton Rose Fulbright is unique in South Africa: I know of no other firm that encourages junior employees and senior directors alike to interact within a weekly artistic programme. This form of employee interaction is popular in the US and Europe, but corporate singing in South Africa is usually reserved for industrial action or as after-hours entertainment for lower-level employees.What training do you have, and how does that help you?I have a degree in music, which is useful. However, I find that my experience is my most valuable asset. The ability to work with people from different backgrounds, choose an appropriate repertoire and understand the talents and limitations of your singers can be gained only through experience.What is your favourite type of music?I love the music of Bach. It is extremely intricate yet simple and easy to listen to. He was a genius and way ahead of his time.I am particularly fond of South African music. Pops Mohamed and Bra Hugh Masekela probably top that list, and I have been fortunate to have worked with both of them. Besides being incredible writers and performers, they have done fantastic work raising awareness of South African music abroad.What do you love most about your job?The ability to work with people and make them feel good about what they do. Many people have a fear of performing or public speaking, and providing them with the tools and platform to overcome their anxiety is an important part of what I do. Seeing that fear transform into confidence and self-belief is particularly rewarding.I also love composing and arranging. Recent computing advancements have transformed the way music is composed, and being able to design my own sounds from an ever-expanding palette and incorporating them into my melodic and harmonic ideas is creatively enriching.What makes your job hard?Balancing the need to be focused on creating beautiful art and having fun doing so. I aim to create a happy rehearsal/performance environment, and I am always mindful to not allow my personal stresses and challenges compromise that. Within a creative environment this can at times be challenging. I'm not particularly fond of admin, either.story_article_right2What did you want to be as a child?I told my parents when I was four years old that I wanted to be a pop star like Michael Jackson. I'm not quite in the same space, but I suppose this is close enough.What did your first paying job teach you?My first job was as a student conductor at the Drakensberg Boys' Choir during my gap year after school. I learnt an incredible amount from my mentor, Christian Ashley-Botha, who was the director of music at the time. He taught me most of what I know about choirs and conducting, and I was extremely lucky to be mentored by him.What advice do you have for young people keen to do what you do?To work in the music industry is a wonderful privilege and extremely rewarding. However, the industry is notoriously tough. It is important to realise that without any corporate structure and promotions to aim for, you have to develop the ability to keep creating your own goals and opportunities.Being a musician is also being an entrepreneur, and it is important to understand what the market requires and how you can make a unique contribution...