Marcel Oetiker was born in Altendorf (canton of Schwyz) in 1979 and studied at the Bern University of the Arts. He was the first Swiss person to graduate in the Schwyzerörgeli, a type of accordion peculiar to Switzerland, and has focused his work on this instrument ever since. However, he also carries its repertoire over to a range of other musical instruments and transfers its traditional types of arrangement to other styles and compositions.

Oetiker works as a composer, freelance musician and music teacher and plays both solo and with the Marcel Oetiker Trio. He was presented with the Canton of Schwyz Culture Award in 2013 in recognition of his musical achievements.