Thomas Grossenbacher was born in Zurich, Switzerland. He is principal cellist of the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich.

He has performed as a soloist with conductors such as David Zinman, Sir John Elder, Armin Jordan and Sir Antonio Pappano, with orchestras such as the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich, the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin and the Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia (Rome), and as a chamber music partner of Radu Lupu, Leon Fleisher, Yuja Wang, Hélène Grimaud, Joshua Bell and the Carmina Quartet Zurich.

His CD recordings, in particular Richard Strauss' Don Quixote (Arte Nova) with the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich under David Zinman, have received great international acclaim.

Thomas Grossenbacher is also very active as a lecturer at the ZHdK Zurich. Some of his students have won prizes at international competitions and now hold prominent positions in renowned symphony orchestras and chamber music ensembles.