The Swiss clarinetist Rita Karin Meier studied in the Zurich University of the Arts (Musikhochschule Zürich) with Hansjürg Leuthold, in the Musikakademie Basel with Hans Rudolf Stalder, in Hannover with Hans Deinzer and in the Musikhochschule «Hanns Eisler» (Berlin) with Karl Leister. All of her studies (orchestra and soloist diplomas) were completed with distinction.

While still a student, she won the Solo Clarinet position in the Sinfonieorchester St. Gallen.

She was also a member of the Swiss Youth Symphony and of the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra (conductor - Caudio Abbado).

Since 1994 she has held the position of Solo Clarinetist at the Zürich Opera's Philharmonia Zürich (formerly the Orchestra of the Opera of Zurich), Conductor: Fabio Luisi.

She won several national and international prizes, such as: "The Hegar Studienpreis" of the Zurich University of the Arts, Studienpreis of the Ernst Göhner Stiftung and the Migros-Genossenschafts-bundes, 2nd prize in the "Concours National", in Riddes/CH 1991, 1st prize in the UBS-Competition «Förderung junger Musiker» 1993, 3rd prize in the soloist category of the Interpretation Competition for Modern Chamber Music, the Concours B.A.T. 1993, as well as the 1st Prize in the International Music Competition «Jeunesses Musicales» in Bucharest 1996.

She has also performed in many touring chamber music programs across Europa.

Since the Autumn of 2008, she teaches at the Kantonsschule Enge und Freudenberg, Zürich and the Liceo Artistico Zürich. Between 2009-2011, she earned a new master's degree in "Music Pedagogics" in the Zurich University of the Arts. She finished it with distinction and received the "W.& B. Alter-Preis für Musikpädagogik". She is a guest teacher in the Musikhochschule Basel. 

She regularly receives invitations to serve as a jury member in competitions or expert in exams.

Her interest in historical clarinets led her to perform since 2008 with the Orchestra "La Scintilla" (Oper Zurich) of which she is a member.