David Cerone was born in Syracuse, New York, and began his violin studies with his father, then went to Detroit at the age of eleven to study with Mischa Mischakoff, famed concertmaster of the NBC Symphony Orchestra under Arturo Toscanini. His studies were completed as a scholarship student at the Julliard School of Music, New York, and at the Curtis Institute, Philadelphia, where he attended Ivan Galamian’s courses.

In 1967 he made his New York recital début at Town Hall. He was Director of the Meadowmount School of Music and member of its Faculty. Philadelphia and was appointed Chairman of the Violin Department, succeeding the late Ivan Galamian.

Since returning to the Cleveland Institute of Music as President in 1985, Mr Cerone has initiated numerous programmes and activities.

He continues to perform regularly at the Institute and often presents masterclasses around the world. He participates as a Juror and is associated with many prominent national and international music competitions, such as the Indianapolis International Violin Competition and the Henryk Szerying Foundation Career Award. Mr. Cerone is the Vice-Director of the International Suzuki Association and recorded the violin repertoire of Shinichi Suzuki in the 1970s, which has now been released in a new edition by Warner Bros.

He was recently appointed to the Board of Advisers for Astral Artistic Services, which helps exceptional young artists bridge the gap between the conservatory and established professional careers. In 1986 he received the Northern Ohio Live Award of Achievement and was the 1994 Person of the Year, presented by the "Americans of Italian Heritage".