Gábor Tarkövi was born in Esztergom in 1969, descendant of a family of musicians.

At the age of nine, he received his very first trumpet lesson from his father, István Tarkövi. Raised in Csolnok, absorbing the local “Schwab” brass music substantially influenced his musical career.

After graduating at the Richter János Conservatory in Győr, Gábor became a student of György Geiger at the Liszt Ferenc Teacher Training College. Gábor continued his studies under Frigyes Varasdy at the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music.

After studying in Budapest, he absorbed important musical influences from György Kurtág and Hans Gansch.

He started his career at the Wurttemberg Philharmonic Orchestra as co-principal trumpet, then moved on to the Berlin Symphonie Orchestra (today Konzerthausorchester Berlin) as principal trumpet, and in 1999 to the Bayern Radio Symphony Orchestra as principal trumpet.

2004 to 2019, he has been the principal trumpet player of the Berliner Philharmoniker.

Besides his orchestral work, Gábor Tarkövi frequently plays chamber music in the Pro Brass and the Austrian Brass Connection, in the Wien-Berlin Brass Quintet and in the Berlin Philharmonic Brass Trio.

Regularly performing in Europe, the USA and Asia, he is a renowned soloist worldwide, presenting concerts with major orchestras as the Berliner Philharmoniker, the Bavarian Radio Chamber Orchestra, China National Orchestra, New Japan Philharmonic and London Symphony Orchestra.

Under an exclusive contract with the Swiss Tudor Classics label since 2008, four CD’s have been produced. These are the Italian Trumpet Concertos with Mojca Erdmann, Classical Trumpet Concertos with the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra conducted by Karl-Heinz Steffens, Arioso & Brillante Concerto for Trumpet and Organ with Peter Kofler, and the Brilliant Brass recording with the Wien-Berlin Brass Quintett.

The productions collected acclamation from critic and the trade.

He lectures at the Herbert von Karajan Academy of the Berlin Philharmonic and presents master courses all over the world.

Since 2018 Gábor Tarkövi is Professor for Trumpet at the Berlin University of the Arts.

„The „Berlin“ Bb and C trumpets play very easily, have a balanced, bright, brilliant sound paired with an excellent tune.
The Heavy models also have an easy response, are slightly brighter in sound, and convey the ideal feel for orchestra musicians.“