Born in Graz.
During his school years, he trained at the Linz Municipal Music School and took his school-leaving examination at the Stifter Gymnasium in Linz.
1985–1991: Studied concert performance and instrumental pedagogy at the Mozarteum in Salzburg under Irmgard Gahl; postgraduate studies at the Vienna University of Music under Ernst Kovacic.
At the same time, he studied the Baroque violin under Nikolaus Harnoncourt.
Since 1993, he has taught at the Mozarteum University in Salzburg, initially as an assistant in the classes of Irmgard Gahl, Benjamin Schmid and Lukas Hagen, and later leading his own class in the Pre-College programme and instrumental pedagogy.
Following two periods as a locum, he has held a professorship at the Anton Bruckner Private University since 2018.
The diversity of his musical activities has always been a central focus, both in terms of stylistic range and the variety of ensemble sizes.
Following several years with the Harmonices Mundi ensemble under Josef Sabaini, he joined the Camerata Salzburg chamber orchestra in 1993, performing several hundred concerts all over the world with this ensemble.
In addition, he has performed with ensembles specialising in specific musical styles, such as Concentus Musicus Wien, Ensemble Baroque de Limoges, Salzburger Hofmusik, Klangforum Wien and oenm.
He soon began to perform more frequently in the field of chamber music, focusing for almost two decades on the string sextet Hyperion Ensemble. With this ensemble, he presented his own series of concerts at the Mozarteum Foundation, undertook concert tours across several continents and performed in many major music centres.
This was followed by invitations to perform as a chamber musician at numerous festivals, including Styriarte and the Salzburg Mozart Week.
For many years, he was a member of the Trio Fontaine piano trio, the New Classic Ensemble Vienna, the Mozart Quartet Salzburg and the Ensemble Scaramouche. Forays into the world of folk music and Viennese chanson, as well as his involvement with the Lungau Big Band, enrich the stylistic diversity of his concert repertoire.
The range of venues for the well over 1,000 concerts performed is diverse, extending from renowned concert halls around the world to the historic monkey house at Vienna Zoo.
Interview
In conversation with Werner Neugebauer
Describe the CAMERATA in three words in your native language!
A piece of cultural history.
What significance does classical music have in today’s world?
It is a humanistic message.
What do you want to give the audience at your concerts?
I want to offer our audience an enriching dialogue on a spiritual level.
