Renate Lemmer was born and raised in Zurich. Following her 'Matura' she undertook musical studies under the tutelage of Ursula Giger and graduated with a teacher's diploma for the transverse flute. Further studies led her to master courses headed by André Jaunet, Aurèle Nicolet, Konrad Klemm and Robert Dick. In 1988 she received the pedagogic prize of the Berti and Werner Alter Foundation. In 1992 she received her concert diploma (Günter Rumpel) from the Zurich School of Music. Lemmer lectured at the conservatory in Berne from 1989 until 1991.
Renate Lemmer has taught transverse flute at the music academy of the city of Basel since 1991 and methodology with the Schweizerischen Musikpädagogischen Verband SMPV. After 1992 she undertook studies at the University of Zurich and received a licentiate in musicology, German philology and pedagogic psychology (2000). She is presently active as a flutest and a podagogue.