“A lot of freedom can come from being my age- freedom from expectations of society… freedom from things that I should do – maybe I don’t want to do them! It’s very freeing.”
“I like that I am a realist: I am not afraid to recognize problems and I am proactive about solving them.”
A woman of many talents, Sherill plays the cello, knows seven languages, and has her pilot’s license. Sherill grew up in California, later earning a bachelor’s and master’s degree in cello performance in Wisconsin where she moved to be with her husband. They moved all over the world together before having children in Oregon. Sherill and her husband are enjoying 55 years of marriage.
As a professional cellist, Sherill has performed all over the world and has enjoyed the variety of places she has had the opportunity to travel to. Her experiences throughout her life have taught her the importance of balancing professional endeavors and family life. She considered raising her children to adulthood and becoming a professional musician two of her greatest achievements.
When Sherill is not playing the cello or spending time with loved ones, she enjoys staying active by swimming, walking, and doing tai chi or yoga. She has found the most rewarding thing about getting older to be gaining a new perspective on life and experiences.
Endlessly curious, she finds herself recognizing: “Damn, I’ve had a good life. And I am still having it.“
Sherill’s advice to her younger self: “ ‘It’s not time to worry yet.’ – I would eliminate a lot of my youthful anxiety if I could remember, it’s not time to worry yet. And that’s different from saying ‘Don’t worry.’ It’s saying ‘I can worry later, if I want.’ ”
Sherill now: “Joy is a big part of beauty,” and “Being curious makes me feel really alive.”
Sherill’s CD of the world’s most mellow cello music is available through her website, mello-cello.com.
