Michael Bladerer studied piano from the age of eight and in 1981 began studying double bass. In 1989 he won the first prize at the national Jugend musiziert competition. From 1986 he studied at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna with Ludwig Streicher, passing his diploma examination with distinction in 1995. He made solo appearances in Austria and elsewhere along with several CD and radio recordings, and gave numerous world premieres of works by composers such as Balduin Sulzer, Wolfram Wagner and Ulrich Küchl. He also gained his first experiences as an orchestral musician, performing with the Bruckner Orchester Linz during 1987–88, and in the Vienna Symphony Orchestra during the 1994/95 season.
In 1996 he was engaged as principal double bassist with the Komische Oper Berlin, remaining in this position for three years. In 1999 Michael Bladerer became a double bassist in the orchestra of the Vienna State Opera. From 2005 to 2013 he also served as chairman of the players’ committee. In 2002 he became a member of the Vienna Philharmonic, where from 2005 to 2009 he also served as press secretary. Since 2017 he is the managing director of the Vienna Philharmonic. Since 2008 Michael Bladerer is a member of the Wiener Hofmusikkapelle and since 2022 a member of Ensemble Wien. He is also a member of the Wiener Ring-Ensemble and the Wiener Oktett.
