Manuel Hofer, born in Graz/Austria, studied with Siegfried Führlinger at the University for Music and performing Arts Vienna, Thomas Riebl at the University Mozarteum Salzburg and the Hanns Eisler University for Music with Lars Anders Tomter and Tabea Zimmermann. His passion for chamber music has been fueled and supported by his work with Rainer Schmid of the Hagen Quartet, Eberhard Feltz at the Hanns Eisler University of Music and György Kurtag.

Manuel Hofer is the first ever Violist to receive the Austrian Music Award Gradus ad Parnassum as a Soloist and has performed with Orchestras such as the Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra, the Vienna Chamber Orchestra, the Bruckner Orchestra Linz, the Haydn Orchestra Bolzano, the Camerata Athens and the the Pannonic Philharmonic Orchestra.

His activities as a chamber musician led to collaborations with ensembles such as the Armida Quartet, Quatour Ardeo or Trio Image and performances in Festivals in Europe, Asia and South America.

Being open and versatile is an important aspect of Manuels life as a Violist. His regular participation in Dorothee Oberlingers Ensemble 1700 or the premiere performance of Samir Odeh-Tamimi’s Viola Concerto “Samas” and his performance prize of the International Stockhausen Society are only two examples for his passion and interest for both historic performance practice and contemporary music. 

Manuel Hofer is the principal Violist of the Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra and regular plays as a guest principal in ensembles such as the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Ensemble Resonanz Hamburg, Camerata Bern, the Munich Chamber Orchestra, Ensemble O/modernt, Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne, the SWR-Symphony Orchestra or the Vienna Chamber Orchestra. 

He holds a teaching position at the University of Music and performing Arts in Stuttgart and gives masterclasses in Austria, Germany, France and Slovenia. 

Manuel Hofer plays a Viola made by Gasparo da Sàlo, Brescia ca 1590.