Born in the Philippines, but raised in rural West Virginia, Dave was exposed to diverse musical traditions from a young age: Iberian-influenced music of the Philippines such as rondalla and kundiman, and Appalachian bluegrass played by his grandfather - a longtime fixture of the West Virginia bluegrass circuit as a fiddler and washtub bassist with the Sleepy Hollow Ramblers. This combination of dance structures and improvisation led to a path in baroque music, and an interest in music and instruments on the fringes of mainstream Western musical tradition.

Dave received a Bachelor’s degree from West Virginia Wesleyan College, attended the University of Colorado at Boulder for Master's studies, and received an Artist Diploma from Cornish College of the Arts; he received primary instruction and coaching from harpsichordists Elizabeth Farr, Byron Schenkman, and Jillon Stoppels Dupree.