Dale Hikawa Silverman studied violin from the age of thirteen. In 1974, she earned her Bachelor of Music degree in violin from the Chicago Musical College of Roosevelt University under the tutelage of Morris Gomberg.  She received a Master’s degree from the University of Southern California in 1977.  She went on to play in the violin section of the St. Louis Symphony for the next two years, followed by being hired as a violinist in the Los Angeles Philharmonic by Carlo Maria Giulini in 1979.  After switching to the viola, she has held the position of Associate Principal Violist in the Los Angeles Philharmonic since 1985.

She was the soloist for the U.S. premiere of "Diademes" for viola and small orchestra by French composer Mark D'albavie, conducted by Pierre Boulez.  As an original member of the L.A. Philharmonic New Music Group she also premiered the unaccompanied viola piece "Trema" by Heinz Holliger.  She performs regularly on the Green Umbrella Series for the Philharmonic and the chamber music series.  Recently, she has performed chamber works with pianist Emanual Ax, Ansi Kartuunen, Joshua Bell and in March of 2008 played Mozart's Clarinet Quintet with L.A. Philharmonic Music Director, Gustavo Dudamel on second violin.