Ingolf Wunder (born in 1985) is an Austrian pianist, multi-prize winner of the 2010 International Chopin Piano Competition, conductor, composer and co-founder of two educational platforms for music: Appassio and Appassimo.
He started his musical adventure on the violin at the age of 4. After his talent for the piano was accidentally discovered by a piano teacher from Linz, Wunder gave up violin and switched to the piano at the age of 14. He began intensive piano studies at the Music Conservatory Linz and only few months later he participated in his first youth competition and won the 1st Prize (VII Concorso Internazionale di Musica, Cortemillia). Soon after the won several other competitions, including the 63. Steinway Piano Competition in Hamburg. About one year after switching to the piano he made his debut at the Vienna Konzerthaus. Two years later he already played in concert some of be most demanding piano works, including Liszt’s all Transcendental Etudes.
In 2008 he started his collaboration with the Polish pianist and the winner of the 1955 Chopin Competition, Adam Harasiewicz. One year later he decided to take part in a piano competition for the very last time.
The 2010 International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw brought uproar, recognition, the 2nd Prize, a few special prizes and many devoted listeners around the world, who saw in him the real winner of the competition.
He recorded several albums for Deutsche Grammophon, he performed in Europe, Asia and both Americas, including such prestigious halls as Musikverein Vienna, Carnegie Hall (NYC), Berlin Philharmonie, Queen Elizabeth Hall (London), Tonhalle Zurich, Rudolfinum (Prague), Moscow Conservatory, Mariinsky Theater (St. Petersburg), Suntory Hall (Tokyo), LOTTE Concert Hall in Seoul, National Concert Hall in Taipei etc.
Privately he is an admirer of Romanticism and Impressionism in music and fine arts. He also has a great interest in neuroscience, quantum mechanics and technology.