Paul Hankinson is a pianist, composer, arranger and songwriter based in Berlin.

Having discovered the piano at the age of three, Paul’s childhood was filled with music and creativity. A life-long love affair with classical music began in his teenage years and he went on to graduate from the Queensland Conservatorium with the University Medal.

It was classical music which initially took him to Berlin although once there he strayed from the path and began writing theatrical symphonic pop songs, culminating in the release in 2011 of his album “Montmorensy – Writ in Water” (Traumton) to critical acclaim.

Paul has worked with artists as wonderful and diverse as Megan Washington, Kate Miller-Heidke, Damian Rebgetz, Fiora, Katharine Mehrling, Cusch Jung and Siobhan Stagg. His song “Human Race” (performed by Fiora) was recently featured in the German film “Einsamkeit und Sex und Mitleid”.

As composer, pianist and musical director he has worked in theater (Münchener Kammerspiele, Hebbel Am Ufer, Gessner Allee, Neuköllner Oper, Bar Jeder Vernunft, Pfalz Theater, Brisbane Powerhouse) and film (including live silent film soundtracks for the Australian Cinémathèque) as well as creating music for his own concerts and recordings.

He has written arrangements for the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, the Babelsberg Film Orchestra, the Stradbroke Chamber Music Festival and the Berlin Comedian Harmonists. As a Signature Artist for online sheet-music store Musicnotes he arranges piano covers of popular songs for digital download.

2017 sees the release of his solo piano album “Echoes of a Winter Journey” (Traumton). He aspires to make music which can be of use in people’s lives, providing a moment of peace or empathy, of beauty, melancholy or joy, a moment of humanity, of connection.

On the wall above his desk is a sign which reads “Who is it for?”