Teemu Honkanen is known as a versatile musician. He studied orchestral conducting at the Sibelius Academy between 1994 and 1999 under Atso Almila, Eri Klas, Jorma Panula and Leif Segerstam. He received his orchestral conducting diploma in 1999, and in the following year also his diploma in choral conducting, which he had studied under the guidance of Matti Hyökki. In addition, he has a diploma in cello.

Honkanen has conducted most of the professional orchestras in Finland, such as Helsinki, Tampere and Turku Philharmonic Orchestras, both Lahti and Oulu Symphony Orchestras. In Scandinavia, Honkanen has conducted among others the Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Norrköping Symphony Orchestra and Oslo Sinfonietta.

As choral conductor Teemu Honkanen has worked as artistic director of chamber choir Key Ensemble (2009–2021), Stockholm Baroque Choir (2004–2006) and St. Matthew’s Choir in Stockholm (2004–2005).

In 2002, Honkanen won first prize in the national competition for choral conducting at the VocalEspoo festival in Finland. In 2013, Honkanen led Key Ensemble to victory in the Let the Peoples Sing competition in Luxembourg. He has recorded several choral albums with Key Ensemble, and many of them have received international recognition and won awards, such as the Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award (CARA) and Finland’s choral recording of the year.