Violinist Yoko Takebe joined the New York Philharmonic in 1979. A former member of the Philadelphia Orchestra, her early training in Tokyo included music and traditional Japanese dance. While attending the Toho School of Music, she was a pupil of Saburo Sumi and Hideo Saito. At age 13, Ms. Takebe won the Japanese National Music Competition. She graduated from the Juilliard School as a student of Ivan Galamian and continued her studies in Switzerland with Joseph Szigeti. Ms. Takebe is a frequent participant in the New York Philharmonic Ensembles and is on the faculty of The Manhattan School of Music. Her husband, Michael Gilbert, is a former member of the Philharmonic's violin section.

Photo of Yoko Takebe: Chris Lee