Jeffrey Butler, Cello
Jeffrey Butler has been a cellist in the Houston Symphony since 1986. He holds degrees in music performance from Boston University and the University of Michigan School of Music, where he was recipient of that school's highest award, the prestigious Stanley Medal. He began cello studies at an early age with his parents, both professional cellists, and continued studies with Jerome Jelinek, George Neikrug, and Claus Adam. Mr. Butler has served on the faculty of the Stetson University School of Music, where he was a founding member of the Stetson Trio. Before joining the Houston Symphony he was a member of the Detroit Symphony.
As a member of the Boston Composers Quartet, Mr. Butler premiered many new works with Composers in Red Sneakers and Nu-Classix Composers. In Houston he has performed chamber music with the Bad Boys of Cello and Tre Voci, trio in residence at Houston Baptist University. He is the cellist of the Fidelis String Quartet, which recently performed to acclaim in San Juan, Puerto Rico and Weill Recital Hall in Carnegie Hall, and has appeared as soloist with the Houston Chamber Orchestra and the Galveston Symphony.
Sherry Cheng, Piano
Pianist Sherry Cheng holds a Master of Music degree in piano performance from the University of Maryland and a Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance from the University of Oklahoma. She moved to Houston in 1999 with her husband, Houston Symphony violist Wei Jiang. They enjoy performing together and raising their two young children. Ms. Cheng performs frequently in chamber music concerts in the Houston area, collaborating with musicians from the Houston Symphony and other freelance musicians. Most recently she has performed with her husband at the Wuhan Conservatory of Music, in Jones Hall with HSO cellist Christopher French, with pianist Ilgin Aka in duo piano recitals at HBU and the University of Texas in Brownsville, and collaborated with the Quartus Chamber Players and soprano Misha Penton on various projects. Ms. Cheng is the founder and director of the HCC Chamber Music Series, which brings innovative classical chamber music programming featuring some of Houston's finest professional musicians to the community at large. |