Peter Hinz

musician, performer, composer & discoverer

Born in 1983 in Genoa, Italy, Peter Hinz is a seasoned percussionist whose artistry bridges cultures and disciplines. He pursued his formal education in Jazz and Popular Music under the guidance of Prof. José Cortijo at the Conservatory for Music and Performing Arts in Mannheim, earning his Master of Music degree in 2009. During his studies, Peter began laying the foundation for a professional career that has since flourished with a diverse range of projects and collaborations.

Peter’s music is deeply influenced by his global journeys to vibrant cultural hubs such as Brazil, India, Tunisia, and Turkey. These experiences have enriched his sound with multilayered cultural and artistic diversity, reflecting his profound appreciation for world traditions and rhythms. His passion for cultural exploration extends beyond music; his travels and work continue to inspire unique audio-visual productions and creative endeavors.

Peter collaborated with KUD Verein für Kunst und Demokratie, where he created his first short documentary about an abandoned village in Italy. This experience broadened his artistic repertoire and sparked a new passion for filmmaking and editing, opening avenues for interdisciplinary creative projects. He is currently working with KUD on an artistic project to highlight the water crisis in Europe.

Peter is also engaged in an inspiring collaboration with Georgia Begbie through the Swiss cultural association FounéForm. Together, they are exploring innovative ways to merge music and artistic expression to inspire cultural dialogue and community connection. Additionally, Peter contributes to the children and youth theater company Compagnie M, where he combines his musical expertise with storytelling to create transformative and educational experiences for young audiences.

He maintains a long-standing collaboration with Eric Trottier and his La Trottier Dance in the experimental studio called LAB Mannheim. Together with Benjamin Jantzen, they combine multimedia and dance to craft innovative, boundary-pushing performances that challenge conventional artistic norms.

For years, Peter has been a vital force in the world of theater and performing arts, collaborating with artists across disciplines to create immersive and thought-provoking performances. Driven by a belief in the power of interdisciplinary art, Peter seeks to transform his personal and collective experiences into works that challenge perspectives, foster connections, and ignite dialogue.

Peter’s innovative approach to art and his commitment to fostering collaboration make him not only a remarkable musician but also a catalyst for meaningful change through creative expression.

I was born in Genoa, Italy, in 1983, the son of a German father and an Italian mother, and brother to two sisters. My upbringing was filled with diverse cultural influences, which shaped my identity and curiosity for the arts. At the age of 7, my mother brought my sister Tania and me to an audition for the Children’s Choir of the Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa, one of the most prestigious and beautiful theaters in Italy. To our delight, we were both accepted and had the chance to participate in Georges Bizet’s opera Carmen. This extraordinary experience was my first encounter with the world of theater and left an indelible mark on my life.

At the age of 14, I discovered percussion, which quickly became a passion. Together with friends, I spent countless hours playing and improvising music, exploring rhythm, and developing a deep connection to sound. This period of exploration laid the foundation for my future in music.

When I turned 18, I took a significant step and moved to Germany to study at the Conservatory of Jazz and Popular Music in Mannheim. Under the mentorship of Professor José Cortijo, I delved deeper into percussion and the art of performance. During my studies, I was fortunate to receive a scholarship from Baden-Württemberg, which allowed me to spend six months at the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA) in Brazil. Immersed in a new continent and culture, I not only honed my musical skills but also broadened my worldview. This experience ignited a lifelong passion for blending diverse cultures and art forms.

In 2009, after completing my Master’s degree, I embarked on a life-changing journey to India to study tabla. Together with my best friend, Simone, I traveled across northern India in search of a master teacher. After a month of exploration, we found Keshvav Rao Nayak at the International Music Center Ashram in Varanasi. Studying under his guidance was transformative. India’s vibrant culture, spirituality, and music left me utterly mesmerized. There’s no better way to describe the experience than “Incredible India!”

These experiences have profoundly shaped my artistic vision, blending global traditions with a personal touch. They continue to inspire my work today, whether I’m collaborating on experimental projects, performing for audiences, or engaging in educational and cultural initiatives. My journey is an ongoing quest to connect, learn, and create, driven by the belief that music and art are universal languages that bring people together.

Guru Keshvav Rao Nayak

Shortly after I came back, Andrea Gronemeyer, the director of the theatre for young audiences at the National Theatre in Mannheim, was searching for a tabla player. I had just started practicing but I wanted to try anyway. This is how I took my first steps in the world of theatre productions. From that moment on, I realized that theatre allows the combination of all kinds of art forms, while opening the door to the possibility of giving deeper and more meaningful messages to the audience – what I had always been looking for.

“Peter Hinz has a precise feeling for the musical expression of emotions” – Die Deutsche Bühne

To this day, I still travel to Varanasi to deepen my study in tabla together with my Guru. In 2013, I created the Sangam project with musicians I had met during my time in Varanasi. Unfortunately, I realized early on the difficulty of managing such a large project with musicians from all over the world, and I had to let go of this musical experience.

In 2014, I brought a close friend and saxophone player, Steffen Dix, on my fourth trip to Varanasi. Together with the musicians of the Music Ashram, I found the right combination for a lasting musical project. In the summer of 2015, we invited my Guru, his son, and his nephew to Mannheim to create a unique collaboration. The project combined Indian classical music, jazz, and gypsy rhythms. We named it NeckarGanga, symbolizing the connection between the river Neckar in Mannheim, Germany, and the river Ganga in Varanasi, India.

My experiences with theater, music, dance, and now filmmaking and editing have expanded my artistic range. There is no limit to the ways I want to express myself. Each medium offers unique opportunities to communicate ideas, emotions, and stories, and I am constantly inspired to explore new creative possibilities.