Siegrid Ernst was born in Ludwigshafen am Rhein and studied piano, violin and music theory as a child.
She later studied piano and composition in Heidelberg, Frankfurt and Vienna, at the University of Music and Dramatic Art in Heidelberg and Mannheim and at the University of the Arts Bremen.
After completing her studies, she performed contemporary music both solo and in chamber ensembles for concerts and radio productions, and taught piano and composition, music theory and improvisation.
She became successful as a composer, and her works have been performed in Europe, the United States, Mexico and Japan.
She was co-founder of the International Congress of Women in Music.