mario duschenes was born in altona, near hamburg, germany in 1923, the son of franz and grete duschenes. he studied the recorder, sight singing and the piano before the age of twelve. in 1935, he began studying the flute with his father and brothers. escaping germany just prior to world war ii, he studied flute, composition and conducting at the geneva conservatory in switzerland, and during the period 1943–7 completed his training with henri gagnebin, andré pépin, frank martin, dinu lipatti and isabelle nef. duschenes won the conservatory's prix de virtuosité in 1946, and the first prize at the 1947 international competition for musical performers in geneva.