Paul Handschke was born in Munich in 1993. At the age of five he had his first cello lessons with Stefan Bohn, later with Michael Weiß and David Grigorian – in addition he has participated in master classes of the most famous cello pedagogues, such as Wen-Sinn Yang, Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt, Jens-Peter Maintz or David Geringas. Multiple prizes at the competition “Jugend Musiziert” on federal level in the categories “violoncello solo” and “string quartet”, first prizes at competitions for youth chamber orchestras and the award of the cultural promotion prize of the association of the Pasinger Mariensäule e.V. followed in the time until her studies.
In 2016, he won both the sponsorship prize and a scholarship at the Oberstdorfer Musiksommer as well as the study prize of the renowned Migros-Kulturprozent (CH) – the following year, he was also honored by the extension of the study prize with admission to the concert agency.
In the 2014/15 season he had a temporary contract in the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, in 2015/16 he was a trainee in the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich; he is also a member of the Zurich Chamber Orchestra and the St. Gallen Symphony Orchestra, among others.
From 2012 to 2018 he studied with Thomas Grossenbacher at the Zurich University of the Arts. Since 2018, he has been pursuing a master’s degree with Prof. Maximilian Hornung at the Musikhochschule München.
In March 2018, he took up a permanent position with the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich, where he will be principal cellist from February 2022.