was born in 1970 in Oberndorf near Salzburg, and
received his first piano instruction at the age of
10. During middle school he added organ, and at the
age of 17 he began his study of percussion at the
music school in the city of Linz under Alfred Steindl.
In 1989 he graduated from the Stiftsgymnasium Wilhering
in Upper Austria.
In 1990 he began courses in music education and in
1992 commenced his study of percussion under Professor
Horst Berger. While still studying he substituted
often with the Vienna State Opera Orchestra, the Vienna
Philharmonic, the Radio Symphony Orchestra Vienna,
and the Vienna Volksoper, among others.
After a successful audition in 1996 he became principal
timpanist with the Vienna State Opera Orchestra and
Vienna Philharmonic, and since September 2005 he has
been timpanist with the Vienna Hofmusikkapelle as
well.
In 2001 he began teaching at the University of Music
and Performing Arts in Vienna and has also taught
in the USA, Japan and elsewhere.
