Born in Tokyo, David Takeno began to play the violin at an early age performing solos with orchestras from the age of eight, first in New Zealand and soon afterwards in America, Israel and Europe.

The main influence in his musical education was with Emmanuel Zetlin in Seattle in the 50s.

During the 60s he moved to London, where in 1968 he formed the London Chamber Soloists and led the ‘20th Century Music  Ensemble’,  the Redcliffe Ensemble, and made recordings for the BBC. 

Since 1976, he has devoted his time to teaching and has taught at the Guildhall School of Music, the Yehudi Menuhin School and Cambridge University, as well as teaching students from the specialist music schools, Chethams, Purcell and Wells.

His broad interest in and enthusiasm for music, past and present, have encouraged pupils in a wide range of fields, from Rachel Podger and Pavlo Beznosiuk in baroque performance to Anthony Marwood and Carolin Widmann who have championed many new works.

Past students hold active positions in the profession throughout the world and have won prestigious prizes in International Competitions.

In 1998 he was awarded the W W Cobbett Medal for services to chamber music by the Worshipful Company of Musicians and currently holds the post of 'Eugène Ysaÿe International Chair of Violin' at the Guildhall School of Music in London.