Philippe Balet began his musical studies in Nice. After winning the Grand Prix de la Ville de Nice, he enrolled at the Paris Conservatoire in the classes of Pierre Doukan, Roland Daugareil and Jean Mouillère.

In 1988, he joined the Radio France Philharmonic Orchestra and, at the same time, undertook a postgraduate course at the Geneva Conservatoire de Musique with Jean-Pierre Wallez.

Since 1996, he has held the post of second principal player in the Orchestre de Paris and is a member of the Quatuor à cordes de Paris.