BIO
Sherry Cheng holds a Master of Music degree in piano performance from the University of Maryland and a Bachelor of the same from the University of Oklahoma. She moved to Houston in 1999 with her husband, Houston Symphony violist Wei Jiang. Sherry is involved in various capacities in Houston's diverse arts community. As a musician, Sherry performs frequently in chamber music concerts, collaborating with musicians from the Houston Symphony and other freelance musicians. Sherry 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. As an arts writer and music critic, Sherry is a contributing writer for Arts and Culture TX magazine as well as Classical Review online. She also serves on Houston Grand Opera's Cultural Advisory Committee. As an early childhood music educator, Cheng has taught music in a preschool for 20 years and continues to be a fierce advocate for integrating the arts into the school curriculum. Born in Wuhan, China, Wei Jiang began studying violin with his father at the age of 5, then studied viola after being admitted to the prestigious Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing. Immediately upon graduating with the highest honors, Wei became the youngest person to have been appointed to a teaching position at the Conservatory. During his five year tenure at the Central Conservatory, Wei toured extensively with his string quartet in Asia and Europe. He was also a founding member of the Eclipse Ensemble, a unique performing group that showcased music by contemporary Chinese composers. Wei came to the United States in 1996 to further his musical training at the Oberlin Conservatory and later at the University of Maryland. In 1999, he became a member of the Houston Symphony. He is a member of the Fidelis String Quartet, which made its Carnegie Hall debut in 2005 and is often featured in chamber music concerts throughout the city and state. He also frequently collaborates with his wife in performances of chamber music and new music, and the family of four also hosts small home concerts on social media during coronavirus quarantine. In his spare time, Wei enjoys playing tennis with his family, traveling, and the simple pleasures of life.