Ryō Terakado is a Japanese violinist and conductor born in 1961 in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, specializing in historical performance practice. He began violin training at age four and won second prize in the “All Japan Youth Musical Competition” at age 14 before studying at the Tōhō Gakuen School of Music. Terakado served as concertmaster for the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra from 1984 to 1986. After studying under Sigiswald Kuijken at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague, he became a prominent soloist and concertmaster for ensembles including Les Arts Florissants, La Chapelle Royale, and the Bach Collegium Japan. Terakado founded the Tokyo Baroque Trio in 1987, which later expanded into the ensemble Tokyo Baroque. He made his debut as a conductor at the Hokutopia International Music Festival in 1994, where he led productions of Baroque operas by Purcell and Rameau. His recordings include the albums Leclerc: Violin Sonatas (1993) and Corelli: Violin Sonatas (1995), both of which received record awards. He is also known for his work with the violoncello da spalla, recording J.S. Bach's Cello Suites on the instrument. Terakado was a professor at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels and a guest professor at Tōhō Gakuen.
