Principal tuba of the Zurich Opera, Florian Hatzelmann, is one of Europe’s most celebrated tuba players. The Bavarian musician has made a name for himself, moving as easily through orchestral repertoireas he does through hip-hop.
Artist Playbook caught up with the Karajan Academy graduate to discuss hard work, humor, and what it takes to build a serious career without losing perspective.
“Be serious until you can afford not to take yourself too seriously”
What first drew you to the tuba?
My village wind band needed a tuba player, and I was six years old and available Afterward, I fell in love with music and the tuba. I still am today.
You bring a lot of humor into the everyday realities of being a musician. Why has that become such an important part of how you communicate?
It’s my way of coping with the pressure and doubts. I’m extremely serious when it comes to practicing, dedication, and commitment. But at the same time, I try to look at the whole thing from another perspective and see the ridiculousness of what we’re actually doing.
What has building an audience online taught you about what musicians actually want to talk about?
Musicians want to see the process. It’s less about showing ten perfectly played seconds and more about how we deal with daily life over the long run: struggles, success, challenges, and improvement. People want an authentic view into another musician’s life.
What is something about practicing or playing the tuba that took you years to really understand?
There is a time in every musician’s life when balance is impossible.
You need to work harder than others, sacrificing your time and energy for a goal that is uncertain.
When things begin to work out, finding a balance between improving and living becomes the part that makes you better. That took, and still takes, a long time for me to understand.
What advice would you give a musician trying to build a serious career without taking themselves too seriously?
Be serious until you can afford not to take yourself too seriously. I only started posting and giving tips online once I had reached my goals. If you’re a student, invest your time and energy in your playing.
Vlogging audition days or giving advice when you’ve never won an audition doesn’t help you focus on the main thing: the real world.
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