Manfred Kratzer studied piano with Helmut Meyer-Eggen at the Freiburg Conservatory of Music and Sontraud Speidel at the University of Music Karlsruhe. In addition to a piano duo refresher course in Stuttgart with Hans-Peter Stenzl, he attended master classes at the International Summer Academy Salzburg, among other places.
Manfred Kratzer was awarded first prize at the Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy Competition and the Dranoff International 2-Piano Foundation Competition.
For SWR and Radio Bremen, he recorded chamber music and solo works and has also made several CDs in piano duo and 12-pianist ensemble formations.
In cooperation with the Busch Kollegium Karlsruhe, Toccata Classics released CDs of chamber music works by Adolf Busch and Josef Schelb in which he participated.
Since 1992, Manfred Kratzer has been a lecturer at the University of Music Karlsruhe. He is a juror at youth competitions and the Youth Makes Music (Jugend musiziert) junior contest for amateurs, and is committed to encouraging young people who seek to study music.
Concerts with the Ensemble Recherche and appearances with the Mendelssohn Piano Duo and as a chamber music partner reflect the versatility and breadth of his pianistic activities.
Engagements as a soloist, lieder accompanist, and organist have led him to concerts and festivals in Mexico, Brazil, the USA, France, Poland, Taiwan, and Japan.