Gertrud Huber grew up in Marktl, Germany on the Austrian border. Her father bought her first zither when she was just two months old. Early on, she played small performances with the zither, harp, and the accordion for the Schuhplattler folk music group of the local Bavarian traditional costume association. She later earned music diplomas for zither, harp, dulcimer, and jazz clarinet from the University of Munich and a PhD in musicology from the University of Vienna. Gertrud is a passionate musician and pedagogue, folk music researcher and ethnomusicologist, performing and conducting research all over the world.

Today, she teaches numerous courses at the Department of Folk Music Research and Ethnomusicology at the MDW, the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna. Gertrud‘s research ranges widely, with particular emphasis on European and Alpine folk music and zither instruments. She is an active performer and directs several ensembles. Her many performances include playing the zither solo from “Tales of the Vienna Woods“ by Johann Strauss with the New York Philharmonics Orchestra under Kurt Masur.