Matthias Engler started playing percussion at the Studienseminar Kiel with Paulgerfried Zulauf (Philharmonic Orchestra Kiel). He then studied classical percussion at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam with Peter Prommel, Jan Pustjens, Marinus Komst, Lorenzo Ferrandiz and Gustavo Gimeno (members od the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and soloists). In 2005 and 2006 he was a fellow of the International Ensemble Modern Academy in Frankfurt am Main – focusing on contemporary chamber music repertoire.

Together with harpist Gunnhildur Einarsdóttir he founded the Ensemble Adapter in Berlin in 2004. He has been working as percussionist and project manager for the group ever since. As a freelance percussionist he is additionally working with several ensembles for contemporary music throughout Germany: Ensemble Modern, MusikFabrik and others. In this context he has worked with various important composers and conductors of our time: Pierre Boulez, Helmut Lachenmann, Maurizio Kagel, Steve Reich and others. He has performed at the most renowned festivals for contemporary music, such as Darmstädter Ferienkurse für Neue Musik, MaerzMusik, Donaueschinger Musiktage and World New Music Days. Since 2010 he has been teaching at the University of the Arts in Braunschweig, and has been a member of the Brandt Brauer Frick Ensemble in Berlin.