[1] After his Abitur at the Gisela Gymnasium[1] in 1964[2] he studied piano, music education and conducting at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater München.

[3][4] At the beginning of his career, Uecker worked as a solo repetiteur at the Cologne Opera from 1969,[4] where he met the director Jean-Pierre Ponnelle.

[3] In January 2000, Uecker was given the task by the Minister of State for Science and the Arts in Saxony, Hans Joachim Meyer, of managing the Semperoper from the 2003/04 season.

[6] He programmed contemporary works such as Henze's L'Upupa and Heggie's Dead Man Walking, promoted productions of new operas, and opened possibilities for young singers.

[4] Uecker taught in Venice, Beijing and Stuttgart[4] and was honorary professor at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater München and at the Bayerische Theaterakademie August Everding.