Unforgettable People (LI): Stjepan Hauser

"The Magician Of The Cello" was born in 1986 in Pula, Croatia, where he started his elementary music education. During his education in Rijeka, he had many performances and he won many competitions and awards, becoming the youngest member of The Rijeka Philharmonic Orchestra, at the age of 16, playing as a soloist. Stjepan Hauser has worked with and impressed the most revered cellists such as Mstislav Rostropovich, Bernard Greenhouse, Heinrich Schiff, Arto Noras, Frans Helmerson, Ralph Kirshbaum, Philippe Muller, Thomas Demenga, Young-Chang Cho, Valter Despalj, Reinhard Latzko, Karine Georgian, Roel Dieltiens and Alexander Ivashkin to mention a few. He completed his undergraduate studies with Natalia Pavlutskaya in London and postgraduate studies with Ralph Kirshbaum as a Dorothy Stone Scholar in RNCM in Manchester and with Bernard Greenhouse in the USA. In October 2006 he was the only cellist chosen to perform in the gala concert at Palazzo Vecchio, Florence for the late Mstislav Rostropovich, who was most impressed by this young artist.

Together with the Slovenian violinist Lana Trotovsek and Japanese pianist Yoko Misumi, Stjepan is a member of renowned The Greenwich Trio described by legendary cellist Bernard Greenhouse as the "New Beaux Arts Trio". These three phenomenal talents joined forces in August 2006 and their breathtaking chamber music making gains the approval of audiences and critics. The trio won series of first prizes in the international chamber music competitions. The Greenwich Trio have also collaborated with conductor Barry Wordsworth and international viola soloist Rivka Golani.

Hauser is laureate of UK's most prestigious international competitions and awards such as: PLG Young Artists Auditions, J & A Beare Solo Bach Competition, NYOS Staffa Award, Philharmonia Orchestra- MMSF, ESO Young Soloist Competition, TWIYCA, Marlow Concerto Competition, Frankopan Fund Award, MBF Music Education Award. His meteoric success started in January 2011, after uploading a cello version of Smooth Criminal by Michael Jackson on youtube, together with his Royal Academy of Music fellow, cellist Luka Sulic. Within just a few weeks, video received over 5 million hits and became huge viral sensation. In April 2011 Stjepan and Luka signed contract with Sony MASTERWORK. Their debut album "2 Cellos" came out in July 2011. Among many pop and rock hits, the album feature those by Guns N Roses, Kings of Leon, Trent Reznor and U2.

"Sir Elton John went crazy after hearing our music", said Stjepan Hauser with satisfaction. Elton John called Stjepan in person and invited him and Luka to join him on his European tour this summer, expanding the experience to his Las Vegas Million Dollar Piano Shows and last Australian tour dates. “They are amazing! Their ages combined are younger than anyone in the band.” exclaimed Elton, referring to Sulic and Hauser. “People don’t know what the cello is capable of – this is what we wanted to show,” said Hauser at his turn. And that's what they're doing when they're playing their own stuff first as the opening act of Elton's shows, then punching the string arrangements of Elton's early hits like "Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word" as band members. A dream come true.