Ernst Hutter

Born in 1958 in the Allgäu region, the musical director of the “Egerländer Musikanten” grew up in a very musical family. His father, a long-time conductor of a renowned wind orchestra in Wangen im Allgäu/Roggenzell, instilled in young Ernst a love for music, especially wind music, from an early age. With four siblings and a mother equally passionate about music, Ernst’s talent was further nurtured through family music sessions at home. He initially learned to play several wind instruments such as the trumpet and clarinet, as well as the accordion. Later, he focused on his main instruments: tenor horn and trombone.  

After completing his general schooling, it became clear that Ernst aspired to follow in the footsteps of his musical idols, such as Ernst Mosch, Jack Teagarden, and James Last. After passing the entrance exam, he began classical trombone studies under Prof. Richard Zettler in Stuttgart, which he completed in 1984. During his studies, Ernst explored various musical styles, showing equal enthusiasm for classical music, jazz, and wind music. However, at the start of his professional career, he faced a serious setback when a car accident caused facial injuries that threatened his aspirations. With perseverance, hard work, and talent, he managed to achieve his goals. After a brief stint as town music director in Herrenberg, Ernst was simultaneously recruited by Ernst Mosch and Prof. Erwin Lehn into the professional wind music scene. These opportunities marked early highlights in his career, providing immense motivation for his personal and musical development.  

In the following years, Ernst experienced numerous highlights, including engagements with Horst Jankowski’s jazz sextet, studio productions, and performances with classical, jazz, and wind ensembles. He enjoyed fruitful collaborations with colleagues from the SWR Big Band and spent over 14 years as a member of Ernst Mosch and his *Original Egerländer Musikanten*. Additionally, he founded his own ensembles such as *Quattrobones* and the *Ernst Hutter Quartet* and played in groups like the *SWR Allstar Quintet* and the *Stuttgart Brass Quartet*. Ernst also shares his expertise as an instructor and teacher. The year 2000 brought a new challenge that revolutionized his musical career. Since 2003, alongside his ongoing work with the SWR Big Band, Ernst has been the sole musical director of *Egerländer Musikanten – Das Original*. Leading the “most successful wind orchestra in the world” into a promising future is a role he approaches with great humility and passion. His extensive experience from 20 years of musical endeavors provides the ideal foundation for this task.  

Ernst lives in the Allgäu region with his wife Uschi, whom he married in 1981, and their three sons, all of whom are also musicians. He finds rejuvenation and inspiration in this idyllic setting. A harmonious family life, with his wife as a central figure, has been the cornerstone of his successful career. Seeing his sons follow in his footsteps is an emotionally significant affirmation of his own journey and a continuation of the passion for music that first inspired him as a child.