Herbert Pichler graduated from the University of Music and Performing Arts in Graz. He has been working as an artist in Vienna since 1989 and also teaches at the Institute for Popular Music at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna. He was musical director of, among others, MISS SAIGON, BARBARELLA, HAIR, MAMMA MIA! and BODYGUARD (all VBW), the new version of CABARET with Maria Bill (Volkstheater Wien) and the TV show "Ein Saitensprung" with Rainhard Fendrich. He has worked as a conductor for productions such as DER BAUER ALS MILLIONÄR (Landestheater Linz), "Musical!- Die Show" (ORF 2007) and I AM FROM AUSTRIA (VBW). Since the first season of the ORF show "Dancing Stars" he has also been the conductor of the Star Orchestra. Other examples of his varied musical activities include orchestral projects with Thomas Quasthoff, the mdw project CUBE, musical direction of the Nestroy Theater Prize, collaboration with the Mozarteum Chamber Orchestra and several projects with Herbert Pixner and the Tonkünstler Orchestra. As an arranger and musician, Herbert Pichler has worked on CD productions and TV shows with artists* such as Nina Hagen, Marianne Faithful and Chaka Khan, with whom he worked on the opening of the Vienna Festival in 2005, as well as with The Supremes, Harry Belafonte, Patricia Kaas, Placido Domingo, the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, Jos. Carreras, Luciano Pavarotti, Dave Stewart, Jim Steinman, Simply Red, Gloria Gaynor and many musical stars.