Tashi - Fred Sherry, cello

Fred Sherry, cello - Perhaps more than any of his colleagues, Fred Sherry looks the part of a musician; his white mane seems perfectly consistent with one's image of a cellist. He surprises in other ways, however, with his interest in Kung Fu movies, body piercing and women pool champions. An Artist Member of the Society since 1984, he was its Artistic Director from 1989 to 1992. He is a founding member of TASHI, a frequent performer at Bargemusic and a member of the faculty of The Juilliard School. Mr. Sherry has had close working relationships with composers Milton Babbitt, Luciano Berio, Elliott Carter, Aaron Copland, Lukas Foss and Toru Takemitsu as well as jazz pianist and composer Chick Corea. An ardent supporter of contemporary composers, he has premiered works by Milton Babbitt, Mario Davidovsky and Steve Mackey, and in 1988 performed the premiere of Charles Wuorinen's concerto, Five, with choreography by Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux, at New York City Ballet. Widely represented on compact disc, he recently embarked on a series of recordings for Koch International Classics. He has devoted much time to contemplating cello technique, and is now preparing to write a book on the subject. He is a fan of Vladimir Nabokov and an avid cook. His wife, Carol Archer, is a pianist.

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Steven Tenenbom, viola - Steven Tenenbom's impeccable style and sumptuous tone have built for him a reputation as one of America's finest violists. In great demand as soloist and chamber musician, Steven Tenenbom has appeared as guest artist with such eminent ensembles as the Guarneri and Emerson String Quartets, the Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson and Beaux Arts Trios, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, and Chamber Music at the Y. He has appeared as soloist with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and the Brandenburg Ensemble for performances in Boston's Symphony Hall, the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., Avery Fisher Hall in New York City, and on tour in Japan. His 1996-97 season included recitals in New York and La Jolla, as well as concerto performances in Michigan (Bartok Concerto), Cincinnati, and Phoenix.

A member of the prestigious groups TASHI, Mr. Tenenbom has worked with such diverse composers as Lukas Foss and jazz artist Chick Corea. He has had a long association with the Galimir String Quartet and the Marlboro Music Festival, including many tours across the United States, Japan, and France. Other festival credits include the June Music Festival, Mostly Mozart, Chamber Music West, Music From Angel Fire, and Bravo! Colorado.

In addition to Mr. Tenenbom's distinguished career as a chamber musician and soloist, he is also on the faculties of the Mannes College of Music and the Hartt School of Music. He is the Chamber Music Coordinator for The Curtis Institute of Music, and is responsible for overseeing the chamber music department's studies and performances.

Mr. Tenenbom has recorded on RCA Records with TASHI and the Guarneri String Quartet, and can also be heard on the Sony Classical, Marlboro Recording Society, Delos, and ECM labels.

Born in Phoenix, Arizona, Mr. Tenenbom began his early studies with Max Mandel. He then attended the University of Southern California as a pupil of Milton Thomas, working with Heidi Castleman during the summers. Further studies carried him to the Curtis Institute of Music where he worked with Michael Tree and Karen Tuttle. Married to violinist Ida Kavafian, the Tenenboms live in Connecticut where they raise, train and show champion Vizsla purebred dogs under the kennel name "Opus One Vizslas".

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