Born in Germany, Pressler moved to Israel in 1938 and received his musical training there. In 1946 he won the Debussy International Piano Competition. Since 1955, he has lived in Bloomington, Indiana, where he teaches at Indiana University.
His previous honors include three honorary doctorates, a lifetime achievement award from Gramophone magazine, Chamber Music America's Distinguished Service Award, and the Gold Medal of Merit from the National Society of Arts and Letters.