Born in Antwerp, Belgium, Frank Willekens received violin lessons from V. Lenaerts and from N. Chumachenco in Zurich. He completed his studies in Winterthur in 1984-87 with A. Piraccini-Stucki. He has also taken courses with Nathan Milstein and Franco Gulli.

While still a student, he worked as a replacement in the orchestras of St. Gallen and Winterthur, as well as with the Zurich Chamber Orchestra. Frank Willekens has been a member of the Camerata Zurich, concertmaster of the "Philharmonic Workshop" Switzerland and primarius of the "Serata Quartet". He has been a member of the Württemberg Chamber Orchestra Heilbronn since 1987.