Matthias Arter, oboist and composer, studied in Zürich (with Peter Fuchs and Thomas Indermühle) and Freiburg im Breisgau (with Heinz Holliger). He quickly established himself as a chamber musician and soloist specializing in contemporary music. Today he teaches oboe and chamber music at the Music University Berne as well as at the Lucerne Festival Academy (instrumental coach), and is principal oboe of the Basel Chamber Orchestra as well as the CNZ (Collegium Novum Zurich). In addition, he is the is the artistic director of several ensembles and projects such as pre-art, CNZ, and Many Many Oboes. He has also dedicated himself to the scientific study of interpretation based on historic recordings. 


In 2009, his portrait-CD with his own solo works written between 1993 and 2006 was published on NEOS-records. Arter’s compositions include chamber, vocal and orchestral pieces. In 2013 he wrote the first concerto for the lupophone, a new bass oboe that he promotes very actively. One of his recent compositions, „Aquarell on Bach’s Ricercar a 6“ has been performed in the big halls in Europe, such as Konzerthaus Berlibn, Musikverein Wien, Tonhalle Zürich, Philharmony Köln. As a soloist (eg with the Basel Chamber Orchestra, the CNZ, Contrechamps, Ensemble XXI. Jahrhundert Vienna, I Tempi or Lemanic New Ensemble) he has performed at numerous festival such as the Lucerne Festival, Biennale Zagreb, Migros Classics, Festival Archipel, IRCAM Paris, and World Music Days. 

As a soloist he appears on the following labels: ECM, Sony Classics, en avant records, Arte Nova, col legno and pre-art music.