Olaf Maninger was born in Recklinghausen, completing his studies in Essen with Janos Starker and Maria Kliegel. Subsequently, he studied in Cologne with Armin Fromm, Ant ó nio Men è ses, and Boris Pergamenschikow, as well as with the Amadeus Quartet. He has followed a busy schedule of both soloistic and chamber music activities, taking him throughout the world. In 1994, Maninger became, for a brief interval, principal cellist with the Hessischen Rundfunk, until he was engaged a few months later by the Berliner Philharmoniker. Since 1996, he has been a principal cellist with the Berliner Philharmoniker.