Ernst Schlader was born in Gmunden (Austria). He studied clarinet and organ as well as musicology and knowledge management in Linz, The Hague and Frankfurt.

As Honorary Professor of Historical Clarinet instruments he teaches at the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik in Trossingen and as a Senior Lecturer at the University for Music and Performing Arts in Graz.

His CD recording of the sonatas for clarinet and piano by Johann B. Vanhal was awarded the Pasticcio Prize of Radio Austria 1 in 2014.  For his musicological thesis on the composer Georg Pasterwiz he received the talent grant for Science from the Province of Upper Austria in 2012.

Ernst Schlader is a scientific adviser at the Anton Bruckner Institute Linz and at the Center for Early Music Performance and Research at the Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas.