Kuppel made his solo concert debut at the age of 13 in Greece. He has been the recipient of numerous first prizes in national and international violin competitions, including the german Jugend Musiziert Competition, and the Chateau de Courcillon International Violin Competition in France. He studied with Andreas Röhn at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater in Hamburg, and with Dorothy DeLay at The Juilliard School in New York City. He studied chamber music with Ralph Gothoni, Herman Krebbers, Zakhar Bron, and Felix Galimir.
After appearing in the gala concerts of the Franz-Wirth-Foundation and the Masefield-Foundation in Hamburg, he was invited to play in many festivals such as the “Tonkünstlerfest Baden‑Württemberg”, the “Schleswig Holstein Music Festival”, the “International Brahms Congress” in Hamburg and “La Tribune des Jeunes Musiciens” in Geneva, the “Richard-Strauss-Festival” in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and the “Rheingau Musikfestival” in Wiesbaden.
He has recorded for radio and television, including NDR, tele5, ARD, Radio Duinrand, BR, Radio de la Suisse Romande and ZDF. He is an avid string quartet player and chamber music player and has released CDs for Naxos and AME. His three world premier recordings of works by Franz Schubert, Friedrich Hermann and Ferdinand David were highly acclaimed by critics and audiences alike: “Straightaway it must be acknowledged that the playing of Reto Kuppel is absolutely sensational… Everything is played with taste and refinement. Tuning and tone are immaculate.” (musicweb-international.com)
Kuppel served as Concertmaster of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra from 1997 until 2013. With this ensemble he concertized in the major concert halls all over the world.
Currently, Kuppel is Professor of violin at the Hochschule für Musik in Nuremberg.