Holger Engelhardt was born in 1979 in Aachen, Germany. He had his first violin lessons at the age of nine and was discovered at a violin competition in 1995 by Leipzig professor Klaus Hertel, who thereafter continued to teach him. This was followed by major studies of the violin with Prof. Hertel in Leipzig until 2002.

During his studies the violinist was a member of orchestras such as the Young European Philharmonics and the Bach Orchestra. He performed as first leader with the Saxonian State Youth Orchestra and the Orchestra of the Academy of Music and Drama in Leipzig. In addition to this, he regularly gave solo performances.

He has performed with such conductors as Kurt Masur, Herbert Blomstedt, Phillipe Herreweghe etc. He attended master classes with Max Frischenschlager (Vienna) and Gérard Poulet (Paris).

After graduating, he was engaged as a first violin member with the Gewandhaus Orchestra. In 2004, he shifted to the Dessau Philharmonic Orchestra as second concertmaster. In 2007, he was engaged at the Opera Leipzig. Holger Engelhardt is a founding member of the Leipzig Philharmonic Orchestra and joins Music Director Dr. Michael Köhler in leading the orchestra's artistic and organizational activities.