Martin J. Pichler was born in Graz where he studied composition and music education with Beat Furrer and Richard Dünser. Since 2003 his music has been premiered regularly in various concerts and events including Musikfestival Grafenegg, Jeunesse Wien, Styria Cantat or Viertelfestival NÖ. In 2007 he won the Ernst and Rosa von Dombrowski Foundation Award for Music (composition), in 2009 the promotional award of the City of Graz, and in 2010 he received the START scholarship for music and performing arts from the Austrian Federal Ministry for Education, Arts and Culture. He has taught at the Graz University of the Arts since 2011.