Josef Niederhammer born in Linz, Austria
Violin lessons from the age of six, followed by violoncello, and finally double bass at 14. After high school, studies in Vienna with Ludwig Streicher.
1977 diploma with honours
1979 prize-winner of the ARD music competition, Munich
1993 Master of Arts
1973 Vienna Volksoper
1974 Vienna Symphony Orchestra
1977 second principal with the Bamberg Symphony
1978 principal bassist in the Bavarian State Orchestra Munich
(Bavarian State Opera)
1986 – 1991 principal bassist with the Munich Philharmonic
From 1991 substitute for the Vienna State Opera and the Vienna Philharmonic.
1979 – 1991 teacher at the Conservatory and at the Music Academy Munich
Since 1991 professor at the Vienna University of Music and Performing Arts
2001 – 2003 guest professor at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester.
Numerous master classes in Austria, Germany, Spain and Japan
2006 – 2023 International Summer Academy, Semmering
As a soloist numerous appearances in Europe and Japan.
Radio and television productions, for the Austrian, Bavarian und Hungarian broadcasting stations, LP and CD recordings.
International chamber music as a member of the “Wiener Virtuosen” and of “Ensemble Wien” and in cooperation with “Carmina-Quartett”, Zürich, “Artis-Quartett”, Vienna “Kreisler-Trio” Vienna and others.