Petra Hinterholzer studied musicology, journalism and communication sciences at the Paris Lodron University of Salzburg.
She worked on the New Mozart Edition as an academic contributor, led the management team at the Camerata Salzburg, and was responsible for the concert planning at the International Mozarteum Foundation, which included the Mozartwoche and Dialoge Fesivals as well as the concert series in the Wiener Saal and Große Saal. She oversaw, as general secretary, the running of the Ernst Krenek Institut Privatstiftung in Krems and the Artistic Administration Office at the Brucknerhaus Linz. She is currently programme and concert planner for the Philharmonie Essen.