Harald Winkler was born in Berlin in 1962. After completing his music studies in Berlin, he was first engaged with the Berlin Radio Orchestra and later became a member of the Staatskapelle Dresden. In 1990, he joined the Staatskapelle Berlin at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden. 

In 1992, he received his first invitation to a CD recording with the Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin. This led to a close and artistically formative collaboration, including participation in numerous CD recordings, opera guest performances, and concert tours with the ensemble. 

In addition, he performs with other chamber music ensembles, including concerts and CD productions with the Berliner Barock-Compagney, Concerto Köln, Preußens Hofmusik, the Dresden Baroque Orchestra, and the Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach Chamber Orchestra. Harald Winkler was also a member of the festival orchestra of the Bayreuth Festival.