Rüdiger Pawassar was born in 1964 in Lübeck, Germany, and since 1990, has served as the percussionist at the Staatsorchester Kassel. Pawassar studied percussion at the Musikhochschulen in Lübeck and Freiburg and took also education in piano and score reading. Through his work as musician, Pawassar met composers like Luigi Nono, lannis Xenakis and Mauricio Kagel. Marimba became an instrument which Pawassar learned to cherish and in 1982 he attended a master course with Leigh Howard Stevens.

Pawassar is also a member of the ensemble 'triomotion' (flute, vibraphone and marimba). His compositions for marimba quartet, Sculpture in wood, as well as the trio version Sculpture 3 are two of the most performed chamber works for marimba.