The violist Elmar Landerer was born in Saalfelden (Salzburg) and grew up in Absam (Tyrol). His musical career began as an alto soloist with the Wilten Boys’ Choir, from 1982 to 1986. From 1984 he studied violin at the Tyrolean State Conservatory with Vladislav Markovic. From 1991 he studied violin with Michael Schnitzler at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna, supplemented from 1994 with viola studies with Hans Peter Ochsenhofer.
In 1990 Elmar Landerer was appointed the youngest member of the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester; that year he also joined the European Union Youth Orchestra. He has been a member of the Vienna State Opera Orchestra and the Vienna Philharmonic since 1996, and since 2019 is section leader of the violas.
As a chamber musician, he is a founding member of the Steude Quartet, has been a member of the Wiener Virtuosen since 2000 and also performs with Philharmonic Five.
Elmar Landerer is a lecturer at the International Music Forum Trenta, and gives masterclasses with the Vienna Philharmonic, to pass on Viennese performance practices to young talent.
Elmar Landerer plays on a Viennese viola made in 1756 by Johann Josef Stadlmann.
