Clarinettist Stephan Kronthaler, from Traben-Trarbach, on the Mosel, started learning music when he was 8 years old, taking lessons on the clarinet, organ, violin and piano. After studying with Karl-Heinz Steffens in Weimar, Ralph Manno in Cologne, François Benda in Berlin and Wolfhard Pencz in Mannheim he was awarded a scholarship to join the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra's Academy. This paved the way to the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie in Bremen, a permanent position with the Gürzenich Orchester in Cologne and his joining the Frankfurt Opern- und Museumsorchester in 2012. He is much sought-after as a solo and chamber musician and by other leading orchestras. His second passion is making instruments. He takes an active role in his adoptive parents Johanna and Otto Kronthaler's well-established hand-made clarinet business. He has been teaching part-time at the Conservatoire du Nord in Ettelbruck, Luxemburg, since 2020.