Written by Ambre Montespan - Updated on Mar 30, 2026
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Are you drawn to the divine tones of the handpan? Want to know which musicians and players are the most gifted with this percussion instrument? Who are the top artists performing handpan melodies on the international stage?
As a long-time handpan fan (also known as the Hang drum) for more than 10 years, I pay close attention to musicians who share their performances online and onstage. So I can introduce you to these outstanding players who’ve become true virtuosos over time.
Some of the most well-known handpan groups and musicians include Hang Massive, Malte Marten, David Charrier, Yatao, and Quentin Kayser.
By taking the time to read this article, you’ll discover the handpan legends you absolutely need to know, including:
- Hang Massive
- Malte Marten
- David Charrier
- Yatao
- Quentin Kayser
- Sam Maher
- Kate Stone
- Daniel Waples
- Mumi
- Yuki Koshimoto
- Kabeção
- Jérémy Nattagh
As a result, you’ll get a great sense of the talent the international handpan scene has to offer. It might even inspire you to experience something truly special at one of their live shows.
Let’s take a closer look at these renowned musicians.
The duo Hang Massive
Formed in 2010 after a chance meeting in India, the duo Hang Massive consists of Danny Cudd, a British musician, and Markus Johansson, a Swedish percussionist who sometimes goes by Markus Offbeat. True to their name, their project focuses primarily on the Hang, another name often used for the handpan. They broke through with the first video on their YouTube channel, published on December 29, 2011: a music clip called "Once Again," in which both artists play the Hang drum. The video quickly went viral and now has over 60 million views. At the same time, it helped popularize a percussion instrument that was almost unknown back then.
Since then, Hang Massive has released several albums, including Beats for Your Feet (2012), As It Is (2013), Distant Light (2015), and Luminous Emptiness (2018). This duo, one of the few still active alongside MEA and Archer & Tripp, now enjoys worldwide recognition and is the most popular group in the scene. They’ve performed in more than 20 countries, including across Europe, the U.S., Russia (the birthplace of other players such as Nadishana and Kiril Osherov), India, and Australia (home to Baran Yildiz). In 2024, Hang Massive embarked on a European tour titled "Wisdom in the Roots," delivering live performances worthy of today’s top contemporary musicians. To this day, they continue to release new tracks while performing in concerts and festivals dedicated to the handpan. Listen to "Once Again," the melody that launched their career, by watching the video below:
Finally, to learn more about this legendary duo, read my article dedicated to Hang Massive. You'll find the latest information about these two artists.
The famous handpan player Malte Marten
Malte Marten is a German musician known for his focus on playing and mastering the handpan. According to his biography, he discovered this percussion instrument in 2014 while taking a sound meditation course and watching Hang Massive videos on YouTube. After a true revelation—and falling in love with this UFO-shaped instrument—he quickly bought his first handpan from a Berlin shop called "Innersound." That same year, he founded the band Yatao with a musician friend (I’ll come back to them a bit later in this article). In 2022, Yatao disbanded so Malte Marten could fully pursue a solo career.
From that point on, Malte Marten focused mainly on sharing his passion for the handpan through concerts, workshops, and online courses. In 2022, he released an album called "Lifeline," showcasing his talent on the instrument. Since 2022, he has also posted handpan meditation videos on his YouTube channel, much like Nadayana, Jérémy Arndt and Taylor Sol. These videos are compositions that can last anywhere from a few minutes to more than an hour, featuring both solos and duets. He often plays alongside Johann Immanuel and Konstantin Rössler. In 2025, Malte Marten embarked on a tour across Europe to perform live for his audience. He is one of the best-known figures on the handpan scene, alongside Manu Delago. Watch one of Malte Marten's handpan meditations in the video below:
To learn more about this artist, read my other article dedicated especially to Malte Marten. There, you’ll find his full professional journey.
French artist David Charrier
David Charrier is a French multi-instrumentalist—like Warren Shanti, Waagal, Maël Chauvet, and Michaël Akortia—who discovered the handpan in 2004. He quickly fell in love with the instrument’s captivating sound, and it ultimately became his instrument of choice. Over time, he built a strong reputation within the handpan community. He went on to compose many tunes and melodies, sharing his music worldwide through solo and group performances. But he soon became especially passionate about teaching, offering private lessons and masterclasses.
Eager to share his passion with as wide an audience as possible, he launched his own online handpan school in 2016, called Master the Handpan. With tens of thousands of students, it has become one of the biggest platforms for learning the handpan, alongside Planet Handpan, Mark D'Ambrosio's platform—especially since Master the Handpan merged in 2024 with Handpan Dojo, a similar platform owned by David Kuckhermann. Master the Handpan brings together many professionals who offer courses via a one-time fee or subscription. In the same spirit of spreading the handpan’s positive vibrations to as many people as possible, he teamed up with Dan Mulqueen, another handpan artist, to host the podcast “The Handpan Show.”
Based near Toulouse, David also offers in-person lessons in the area. It’s also worth noting that, in addition to his musical pursuits, David is a pastor and says he uses music to touch hearts and share his faith. Listen to one of his best-known tracks, “Lafa”:
Learn more about David Charrier's career by reading my article dedicated entirely to him. You’ll see how he helped create many projects before becoming a well-known name in the handpan community.
The players of Yatao, the geniuses of the Hang drum
Yatao is a musical duo formed in 2014 by Malte Marten, the handpan player described earlier in this article, and Alexander Mercks, who mainly plays the didgeridoo (an Australian wind instrument) and the handpan. Specializing in improvised composition, Yatao—like Hang Massive—made a strong mark on the international scene as masters of handpan performance. They played several hundred concerts, especially across Europe, in a wide range of venues around the world. Their YouTube channel also surpassed 50 million views, a clear sign of their popularity.
However, during the COVID-19 lockdowns between 2020 and 2021, the two musicians had a falling-out (without sharing many details publicly). As a result, in 2022, Yatao officially announced its breakup so each member could pursue a solo career and develop their own style and musical world. Still, Yatao remained one of the pillars of the handpan community for nearly eight years straight. Here is an example of a melody performed by Yatao at the time:
Take a moment to read my article about Yatao—you’ll learn everything there is to know about the duo that launched the solo careers of Malte Marten and Alexander Mercks.
Musician Quentin Kayser
Quentin Kayser is a French multi-instrumentalist and composer who developed a passion for music at a young age. As a child, he first dove into classical piano and guitar before discovering the handpan in 2012 and eventually focusing almost exclusively on this captivating percussion instrument. Over the course of his career, he has released several albums, including "Healing," "Evolve," and "Listen," his most recent, released in November 2023. Thanks to his talent, he also composes original music for films and documentaries such as "Alaska Patagonie" and "Aux pays des brumes," two works by director Sophie Planque that have won awards at various film festivals.
Quentin has also toured worldwide for seven years, and he says his inspiration comes from the people he’s met and the places he’s traveled. He regularly leads handpan workshops at “Hameau de l’Étoile,” an estate about 19 miles (30 km) from the city of Montpellier in France. Participants get to explore many facets of the instrument, since he’s the only one offering the chance to play 16 handpans tuned the same way but made by 16 different builders. Here is an excerpt from his album "Healing":
Let yourself be carried away by the sublime melodies created by this artist and check out my full article dedicated solely to Quentin Kayser's professional journey with the handpan. You’ll discover all the subtleties he brings to his music. You may also be interested in my article on Laurent Sureau, another French artist whose path is largely dedicated to the handpan.
Street musician Sam Maher
Sam Maher is an Australian musician and percussionist, like his compatriot Adrian Portia. He’s from Fremantle, a city in Western Australia on the west coast at the mouth of the Swan River, with a population of around 25,000. Before dedicating himself entirely to the handpan, Sam Maher played drums in various bands in Perth, the capital of Western Australia. Along the way, he collaborated with artists such as Methyl Ethel, Katy Steele (Little Birdy), Rabbit Island, Grace Woodroofe, and Nicholas Allbrook (POND, Tame Impala). But it wasn’t until 2014—the same year Dante Bucci passed away—that Sam Maher discovered the handpan. Six months later, he set off on a 13-month journey across the Americas, traveling from Mexico City to Patagonia in Argentina while living mostly on donations from people who enjoyed his street performances. A little later, another musician named Peter Levitov would also use this concept with his handpan.
On October 31, 2015, the YouTube channel BUSKRS—known for showcasing street performances—posted a video of Sam Maher playing a melody in an empty subway station in New York City, the birthplace of Connor Shafran, another handpan player. This video quickly went viral, with over 9 million views at the time of writing, and has inspired others to follow in his footsteps by also playing in the street, such as Vasilis Vasiliou. From there, Sam Maher became widely regarded as one of the best handpan players in the world. He has since toured more than 22 countries to share his music with an ever-growing audience. Enjoy the song that made Sam Maher famous by watching the video below:
For all the details on Sam Maher's life and musical journey, including his incredible road trip, read my article dedicated to this artist.
The fabulous handpan player Kate Stone
Kate Stone is a German musician who originally trained as a pianist. She’s one of the few women performing at a world-class level on the handpan, alongside Changeofcoulours, Mar Loi, Heidi Albert and a handful of others. When she discovered the handpan, Kate Stone especially loved how perfectly the instrument blends melody and percussion. She therefore devoted herself entirely to the handpan, regularly posting videos on her YouTube channel. She also performs live frequently and has released albums such as "Urban" in 2016, inspired by the beauty of city life, and "Empty Space" in 2023, reflecting her search for calm and well-being in today’s world.
Like most of her counterparts, Kate Stone also offers workshops that allow beginners to learn the handpan while benefiting from the quality of her guidance. These workshops cost around $400 in the town of SĂĽĂźen, Germany, and usually take place in a park to stay close to nature. Open to players of all levels, these events can be booked on Kate Stone's official website. Take a few minutes to enjoy one of the beautiful melodies Kate Stone creates:
To learn more about Kate Stone's musical journey, read my dedicated article. All the latest news about this musician is compiled in it.
Daniel Waples, one of the best composers for this percussion instrument
Daniel Waples is a British musician, like Rosie Bergonzi, James Hunter Crossley and Amy Naylor, and is currently recognized as one of the best handpan players in the world. When performing, he doesn’t use his official name but the stage name "Hang in Balance." With millions of views on YouTube, he has been composing music since 2011. He aims to make the handpan a symbol of universal peace and introspection, which is why his entire discography is available to download for free, just like Arthur Pasecinic's, on his Bandcamp account. Of course, you can donate any amount to show your appreciation, but it’s not required.
His music is also available on Spotify, where he regularly releases tracks for his listeners. In addition to his musical performances, Daniel Waples has taken part in TED talks, a conference series run by a nonprofit organization that highlights ideas worth sharing. He has spoken passionately about the handpan and why it deserves wider recognition. Watch one of his performances right here:
For more details about this instrumentalist’s life, I invite you to read my article dedicated to Daniel Waples—it contains the latest information about him.
The incredible Mumi, a talented musician
An Italian musician—alongside compatriots Laura Inserra, Gabriele Pollina, Valerio Menon, Davide Friello, Loris Lombardo, and Davide Swarup—Mumi is known for her versatility, as well as for building the handpans she performs on. She also sings during her shows. Immersed in music from the age of 5, when she began learning piano, Mumi studied music history and music theory and earned a degree in the field. She then trained as a singer and became an opera soprano, serving as a principal soprano for 3 years.
In 2010, this Italian artist discovered the handpan, an instrument that would completely transform her career. For more than 10 years, she learned to play melodies on this innovative percussion instrument. She also began crafting handpans with the help of her partner Alessandro, founding the ElaĂŻa Handpan brand in Milan, Italy. Having been immersed in music since early childhood, she naturally offers handpan lessons to beginners and novices eager to learn. Among her most notable successes is her cover of Metallica's "Nothing Else Matters," using only a handpan and her own voice. You can listen to this track right here:
Learn more about this percussionist by reading my article dedicated solely to Mumi. It’s a concentrated source of information about this artist and her musical journey.
Yuki Koshimoto, the artist who came straight from Japan
During her many trips to faraway countries, Yuki Koshimoto discovered the handpan when a street musician introduced her to this fascinating instrument in 2009. Since then, she has acquired one herself and began earning a living by playing melodies for passersby in several cities around the world. Performing solo and in groups, her talent was revealed to the world in 2011, when she released a video titled "New Moon," in which she composed a beautiful song on her handpan.
The clip quickly went viral, reaching several million views. As a result, Yuki Koshimoto began appearing at many festivals as a headlining artist. Today, she continues to share her creations on social media. Learn more about Yuki Koshimoto in this dedicated article. She is the most famous Japanese handpan player alongside Takao Minemoto and RĂ©o Matsumoto. You can also listen to her song New Moon in the video below:
Kabeção, excellence from Portugal
Kabeção is a handpan player from Portugal who rose to fame by appearing on the TV show "Got Talent Portugal" in 2015. By reaching the final—without winning—he helped introduce this percussion instrument to a much wider audience in his country, while also showcasing the full extent of his talent. Much of his success comes from the fact that Kabeção is a true multi-instrumentalist, skillfully combining the handpan with other instruments such as the drum kit, gongs, and chimes.
Riding the wave of notoriety from his TV performance, Kabeção went on to play many concerts and music festivals, whether handpan-focused or not, sometimes performing with other musicians such as Alexandre Lora, Marcel Hutter, and Jacob Cole. He later devoted himself to teaching as well, offering workshops and online courses through the Master the Handpan platform. Today, although he travels less than he used to, he continues to release compositions on his YouTube channel and organize handpan seminars in his native Portugal. You can listen to one of Kabeção's best songs below:
To learn more about this artist’s evolution, read my article entirely dedicated to Kabeção. You’ll learn about every stage of his career as a musician specializing in the handpan.
Jérémy Nattagh, the performer of sublime melodies on the Hang
Born in Paris, France, Jérémy Nattagh is a multi-instrumentalist who began his journey as a classical flute player before exploring other areas such as jazz piano, gospel drumming, electric bass, and composing film soundtracks. It wasn’t until 2014 that he first encountered the handpan, a meeting that marked a turning point in his professional career. Thanks to this instrument, he gained wider recognition, especially through compositions that beautifully blend the handpan with other musical tools and instruments such as the cajon, a looper, and beatboxing.
His album "Panoramique," released in 2015, brilliantly blends ethnic grooves, acoustic trance, and lyricism. To achieve this, he surrounded himself with other musicians specializing in the didgeridoo, jaw harp, and world flutes. Over time, Jérémy Nattagh has gained international recognition as a musician and handpan player. He has performed in China, the United States (a favorite venue of Adam Maalouf, another percussionist), India, and the Palais des Congrès in Paris. He is also sought after to produce musical compositions for institutions such as the Musée du Quai Branly and the Musée des Confluences. Enjoy one of his most beautiful creations below:
Play wonderful songs like all these professionals
The list of musicians and artists specializing in the handpan keeps growing year after year, to the delight of listeners who love the rich variety of sounds these exceptional players create. Thanks to everything covered in this article, you now know which artists are the most renowned in the handpan community—and you’ve discovered new musical gems to enjoy anytime.
However, to reach that level of performance, you need a high-quality instrument. That’s exactly what the Instruments du Monde online store offers, with a full range of models that are perfect for starting this wonderful musical adventure. For example, this fantastic handpan recommended by Sam Maher is sure to deliver the satisfaction you’re looking for.
Discover this majestic handpan now by clicking on the image below:
Do you want to play like the artists featured in this article? If so, read all my tips for playing the handpan well. You'll discover the techniques and small details that helped musicians like Hang Massive and Malte Marten become stars with this percussion instrument.
