Personal details
Official sites :
Born:
- Birthday: 1966-10-11
- Born Place: Kreuztal, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Also Known As:
Hauschka
Volker Bertelmann
Volker Bertelmann, born on October 11, 1966, in Kreuztal, West Germany, is an internationally acclaimed German composer, pianist, and former rapper who primarily performs and records under the alias Hauschka. He is widely recognized for his innovative use of the prepared piano, a technique where he alters the instrument's sound by placing various objects like felt, rubber, or metal between the piano strings. Bertelmann studied classical piano for ten years starting at age eight, and after leaving his studies in medicine and business economics, he began concentrating on music, eventually adopting the Hauschka pseudonym to avoid being pigeonholed. His career spans over 30 years, including an early venture into hip-hop with the duo God's Favorite Dog, but he is most celebrated for his film scores. Bertelmann won an Academy Award and a BAFTA Award for Best Original Score in 2023 for his work on the German anti-war drama All Quiet on the Western Front (2022). He was previously nominated for both the Oscar and Golden Globe for the score of Lion (2016), which he composed in collaboration with Dustin O'Halloran. His prolific work includes scores for other prominent features and series such as The Old Guard, Stowaway, and Patrick Melrose. Bertelmann is an active member of both the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.
