Johann Josef Gabriel Netzer (18 March 1808 in Zams – 28 May 1864 in Graz) was an Austrian conductor and composer of early Romanticism.

[2] Josef received his first music lessons from his father Christian Netzer, a teacher and organist from Zams.

Because his parents wanted him to become a priest, he was sent to Innsbruck to attend the "Gymnasium" (an academic highschool) at the age of 12.

Alongside his school attendance he studied playing the piano at the Innsbrucker Musikverein with Martin Goller.

After his graduation he settled in Vienna to work with Johann Gänsbacher and Simon Sechter, the teacher of Anton Bruckner.