Pandemonium as married, eminent conductor's hugging student at the opening (9)
I believe the answer is:
maelstrom
'pandemonium' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'married eminent conductor's hugging student at the opening' is the wordplay.
'married' becomes 'm' (abbreviation, e.g. in genealogy).
'eminent conductor' becomes 'maestro' (I've seen this in another clue).
'hugging' means one lot of letters goes inside another (outside letters hug or embrace inside letters).
'student at' becomes 'l' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'the opening' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other) (some letters appear before or \'open\' others).
'maestro' going around 'l' is 'maelstro'.
'm' after 'maelstro' is 'MAELSTROM'.
'as' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for maelstrom that I've seen before include "danger to shipping" , "Norwegian whirlpool" , "Major confusion" , "fearsome current" , "Strong circular current of water" .)