Daniel Arlig was born in Springfield, Missouri.  When he was 8 years old his family moved to Minnesota, where he started playing viola in his public school orchestra program.  He continued to learn other string instruments and after high school, studied double bass performance at New England Conservatory of Music in Boston.

In 2000, he graduated with honors in String Instrument Repair from Minnesota State College - SE Technical in Red Wing, MN; under the direction of  Lisbeth Nelson-Butler.  In 2002, he graduated with a degree in Violin Making and Restoration from the North Bennet Street School in Boston, Mass. He studied with Kevin Kelly, David Polstein & Thomas Hummel; and completed the three year program in two years. 

After graduating violin making school, he returned to Minnesota and apprenticed with John R. Waddle of St. Paul, Minnesota.  He was Awarded a Honorable Mention in the 2012 Art of Sound Violin Making Competition. In addition to violin making; he continues to perform with several ensembles around the Twin Cities Area.  Member of the American Federation of Violin and Bow Makers, elected 2018.