Georges Schmitt, born Johann Georg Gerhard Schmitt in Zurlaubener Ufer, Trier, Kingdom of Prussia, on March 11, 1821, was a German-French classical organist, pianist, composer, and music teacher who died in Paris, France, on December 7, 1900, at age 79. At age 14, he succeeded his father as organist at Trier Cathedral, later teaching at its music school before relocating to Paris in 1844. He served as organist at St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans from 1848 to 1849 before returning to Paris, serving as organist at Saint-Sulpice from 1850 to 1863 and at Saint-Germain-des-Prés, while teaching at the École Niedermeyer de Paris. In 1846, he composed the hymn “Mosellied”, which achieved lasting popularity across the Mosel valley. Active in the Cecilian Movement for sacred music reform, his compositions include Le Grand Orgue in 1854, Le Musée de l'Organiste in 1857, the comic opera La belle Madeleine in 1866, and the dramatic symphony Le Sinaï in 1878.
