Thilo Ermold was born in Altdöbern in Lower Lusatia. From 1977 to 1983 he studied double bass with Christian Rolle at the Hochschule für Musik Carl Maria von Weber Dresden. Following his studies, he was deputy principal double bass at the Greifswald Theater from 1983 to 1986, and has been a member of the Dresden Philharmonic since November 1987.