Principal Flutist, Wiener Philharmoniker
Karl-Heinz Schütz is one of the world’s leading flutists and serves as Principal Flutist of the Wiener Philharmoniker and Wiener Staatsoper. Before joining these prestigious institutions, he held the same position with the Stuttgarter Philharmoniker and later with the Wiener Symphoniker from 2005 to 2011.
Born in Innsbruck and raised in Landeck, Tyrol, Schütz studied with Eva Amsler at the Vorarlberg Conservatory, Philippe Bernold at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Lyon, and Aurèle Nicolet in Switzerland.
An internationally acclaimed soloist, Schütz won First Prize at the Carl Nielsen International Music Competition in 1998 and the International Flute Competition Kraków in 1999. Since then, he has appeared as soloist throughout Europe and Japan, performing the major flute concertos with leading orchestras including the Wiener Philharmoniker, Wiener Symphoniker, NHK Symphony Orchestra Tokyo, and Sapporo Symphony Orchestra. He has collaborated with distinguished conductors such as Daniel Barenboim, Fabio Luisi, Yakov Kreizberg, Dmitrij Kitajenko, and Bertrand de Billy.
A passionate chamber musician, Schütz performs regularly with renowned ensembles spanning repertoire from the Baroque period to contemporary music. In 2013, he succeeded the legendary Wolfgang Schulz in both Ensemble Wien-Berlin and the Wiener Ring Ensemble. He is a frequent guest at major international festivals, including Salzburg, Bregenz, Graz, Montpellier, Rheingau, Sapporo, and Prague.
In addition to his performing career, Schütz serves as Professor of Flute at the Musik und Kunst Privatuniversität Wien, where he trains the next generation of flutists. He is also an active recording artist, with acclaimed releases featuring works by Mozart, Prokofiev, and Brahms, and serves as Artistic Director of Horizonte Landeck.
Recognized for his exceptional artistry, refined musicianship, and international career, Karl-Heinz Schütz stands among the most influential flutists of his generation.