Raphael Brunner received his first violin lessons from his father at the music school in Lienz. Afterwards he studied at the University Mozarteum in Salzburg with Prof. Jürgen Geise, where he also graduated with distinction. In addition he studied with Prof. Helfried Fister at the Carinthian „Landeskonservatorium“.
Several times he was awarded at „Prima la Musica“ at the federal level. He attended masterclasses with Prof. Helmut Zehetmair, Prof. Zakhar Bron, Prof. Josef Hell a.o. At the age of 14, he did his first solo performances accompanied by Orchestras. For example, W. A. Mozart: Violin Concerto in G, K. 216 with the International Youth Symphony Orchestra Bremen. Several solo performances wih the Ensemble CIS or the Festival Chamber Orchestra Salzburg followed. Concerning chamber music he has played with musicians like Michaela Girardi (University of Music "Mozarteum" Salzburg, Camerata Salzburg), Florian Simma (principal cellist of the Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg), Tibor Benyi (awarded with the Hungarian State Prize for Cello), Monika Kammerlander (concertmaster of the Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg), Alexander Burggasser (concertmaster of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra), Prof. Jürgen Geise (University of Music " Mozarteum" Salzburg), Prof. Gunter Teuffel (principal violist of the Radio Symphony Orchestra Stuttgart, professor at the Musikhochschule Stuttgart). He also has played in ensembles such as "Camerata Salzburg", the "Salzburg Soloists" the "Camerata Carinthia" or the "Festival Chamber Orchestra Salzburg".
As a violin teacher he works at the „Musikum Salzburg, where he teaches violin and strings classes. He also runs a children's orchestra there and instructs the kids of a violin-section of the „Mozart Children´s Orchestra“.