Stjepan Hauser

Hauser was born on 15 June 1986 in Pula, Croatia, into a musical family. His mother played percussion, and from an early age Hauser was surrounded by rhythm and melody. He finished secondary school in Rijeka before moving to Zagreb for his initial musical studies.

His formal training took him across Europe and the United States. He studied at Trinity College of Music (now Trinity Laban) in London under Natalia Pavlutskaya, completed postgraduate studies with Ralph Kirshbaum as a Dorothy Stone Scholar at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, and also studied with Bernard Greenhouse in the USA.

Hauser has performed in more than 40 countries, with debuts at Wigmore Hall, Royal Albert Hall, the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, and the Southbank Centre. In October 2006 he was chosen to perform at a gala at Palazzo Vecchio in Florence for Mstislav Rostropovich, a pivotal moment that opened doors to numerous European festivals.

In January 2011, Hauser and his friend Luka Šulić uploaded a cello-only cover of Michael Jackson's "Smooth Criminal" to YouTube. The video became a viral sensation, and 2CELLOS was born. The duo went on to achieve global success, selling out arenas and collaborating with artists such as Andrea Bocelli, Elton John, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Beyond 2CELLOS, Hauser continues to perform as a solo artist. His album Hauser Classic was released in February 2020 with the London Symphony Orchestra, and The Player topped Billboard charts. His "Rebel with a Cello" solo tour brought his signature blend of classical virtuosity and popular appeal to audiences worldwide.