He took up the trumpet at the age of eight under the tutelage of [a410274]. Hardenberger pursued further studies at the Paris Conservatoire, with [a845786], and in Los Angeles with [a784739]. He quickly established a career as a virtuoso who possesses an impressive command of the classical repertoire.

He has also commissioned many new works from contemporary composers including Harrison Birtwistle, [a115467], [a262358], [a193937], Mark-Anthony Turnage, [a1275746], Tobias Broström and Arvo Pärt. Hardenberger performs with the world’s leading orchestras, including [a388185], [a406281], Wiener Philharmoniker, Sveriges Radios Symfoniorkester, The London Symphony Orchestra, [a604396] and [a1348996].

He is currently a professor at the Malmö Conservatoire and the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester. He is also Artist in Residence at the [a854918]; Further afield he is play/directing the Göteborgs Symfoniker (Gothenburg Symphony), the brass of the [a1032278] and the [a2024862].