Born in Hanau-Grossauheim in 1929. School-leaving exam (Abitur) - violin lessons under Zentner and Uhlemann; Kottmann's interest in music supported in particular by friendship with the violinist Gert Hölscher. Early acquaintance with the pianist Günter Ludwig; began studies with the Flesch-Moodie pupil Marie-Louise Graef-Moench.

Influential encounters: Elly Ney, Ludwig Hölscher, Thomas Magyar, August Leopolder, Erich Flinsch, Karl Weiß, Helmut Walcha, Anton Biersack, Karl Freitag, Friedrich Zipp, Kurt Hessenberg, Vasa Prihoda, Gerhard Taschner, Reinhold Finkbeiner, Richard Rudolf Klein, Otmar Mácha, Dieter Lindemann, of Bethmann family, Rüdiger Volhard, Karlheinz Ludwig Funk.

Intensive collaboration with Walther Davisson, studied under Max Rostal. Premium Winner of the competition conservatories of BRD. Concert Examination.

Artistic partnerships: Karl Freitag, Marietta Krutisch, Gisela Sott, Heinz Teuchert, Rainer Hoffmann, Maria Jäger-Jung, Alois Ickstadt, Günter Ludwig, Peter Lukas Graf, Albert Mangelsdorff, Agnes Giebel, Ingo Goritzki.

1968 Collegium Instrumentale chamber orchestra founded. 1988 Kottmann-Streicher ("Kottmann Strings") founded.

Teaching positions:
College of Music and Performing Arts in Frankfurt am Main (Honorary Professor of Artistic Faculty)
Dr. Hoch's Konservatorium, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University
Faculty of Music at University of Mainz
Peter Cornelius Konservatorium Mainz

Initiatives:
Co-founder of the Gallus concerts in Flörsheim
Founder of the Philippsruher Schloss concerts in Hanau Senckenberg
concerts in Frankfurt am Main
Internationale Musiktage, Hofheim am Taunus
"Alois Kottmann Prize for classical, cantando violin playing" in conjunction with the city of Frankfurt am Main.
Artistic patron of "Paul-Hindemith Prize for Art and Humanity" presented by the town of Hanau.

Honours:
August Gaul Badge of Honour of the Town of Hanau
Badge of Honour of the City of Frankfurt am Main
The Order of Merit of the State of Hessen
The Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany


Magnificent recordings of the solo sonata partitas of Johann Sebastian Bach (first time ever: simultaneous three-string playing with modern violin bow)

Further CDs: Violin sonatas by Brahms, Schumann, Franck, Busoni, Reger, Messiaen etc. Orchestral works with Collegium Instrumentale