International Performance

A graduate of the Juilliard School with a Master of Music degree in violin performance, Dr. Nicole Cherry has built a career of extraordinary range and distinction. Her journey as a concert violinist has taken her to some of the most celebrated stages in the world — from Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall in New York, to the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., to concert halls across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

Dr. Cherry's international touring has included featured solo engagements in Israel, Egypt, Jordan, and South Africa — performances that brought classical violin to new audiences and forged lasting cultural connections through music. Her ability to communicate across languages and traditions has made her one of the most sought-after violinists for international concert programming.

As Second Violinist of the Marian Anderson String Quartet — the first African American ensemble in history to win a classical music competition — Dr. Cherry has performed at the 52nd Presidential Inaugural Celebration at the Kennedy Center, the Library of Congress, Alice Tully Hall, the Corcoran Gallery, and through the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. The Quartet's distinguished history spans residencies at Rice University's Shepherd School of Music, Texas A&M University, and City College of New York.

Noted for her versatility across styles and genres, Dr. Cherry has shared the stage with members of the Audubon, Cleveland, and Colorado String Quartets, as well as acclaimed pop artists including Whitney Houston. Whether performing a Beethoven quartet, a solo recital, or a cross-genre collaboration, she brings the same commitment to excellence and emotional depth that has defined her career across four continents.

Dr. Cherry's scholarly and institutional recognition reflects the same standard of excellence she brings to the concert stage. Named a 2027 Visiting Fellow at Trinity Hall, University of Cambridge, she joins one of the world's most distinguished academic communities — a testament to her contributions to music, education, and cultural leadership. She serves as a Fulbright Adjudicator in the Strings Category, evaluating the next generation of artists seeking to represent American music on the world stage.

As Principal Investigator for an ARC (Arts Research and Creative) Grant, Dr. Cherry leads original inquiry at the intersection of performance practice, cultural history, and artistic innovation. Her work as a researcher and scholar deepens the intellectual foundation of everything she brings to the stage — a rare synthesis of virtuosity, vision, and academic rigor that places her among the most complete artists of her generation.