Detlef Bensmann studied saxophone with Prof. Omar Lamparter and double bass with Prof. Heinz Jablonski in Berlin, Germany. After playing double bass in the orchestra of the Deutsche Oper Berlin (1979/80), he started his career as a saxophone soloist with a debut concert in the Berlin Philharmonie with the Radio Symphonie Orchestra Berlin (DSO) and a first recording of concertos for saxophone and orchestra (1980). He reguarly performs internationally with world-class orchestras and renown conductors. More than 25 concertos have been composed especially for Detlef Bensmann (mostly recorded) and he has premiered more than 100 compositions for chamber ensembles or solo pieces. In 1983, Mr. Bensmann founded the Berlin Saxophone Quartet where, until July 2007, he performed as the primarius (principal) of this ensemble.  He has continued playing saxophone quartets with the “Bensmann-Saxophone-Quartet”, which he founded 2006  with students of his master-class. In 1984, Mr. Bensmann  started teaching at the University of the Arts, Berlin. Since 1992, he has also been teaching at the “Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin” and, from summer 2010 to summer 2016, at the HMT Rostock. Since Winter 2016 he is also teaching in Akademie for Arts Berlin. In the last 20 years, Mr. Bensmann has also pursued a career as conductor and composer.Mr. Bensmann has also composed  pieces for solo saxophone; saxophone with piano; with piano and violin; saxophone and cello; diverse saxophone quartets; songs for soprano and saxophone quartet; pieces for saxophone and organ; and 5 pieces for cello solo.
Detlef Bensmann is officially supported by the Geothe-Institut