Tamás Benedek was educated in Budapest, where he studied the violin for twelve years before turning to the clarinet. After completing his musical studies at the Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music in 1968, he appeared as soloist in Germany, Netherlands and Sweden. For the past twenty years he has enjoyed a second career as conductor, serving as music director at a number of theatres in Germany. His recordings include works by Mozart, Haydn, Donizetti, Dvořák, Tchaikovsky and Arvo Pärt.