Senior Spotlight: Sherry Xu

Sherry Xu ’21 is a Music Vocal Performance major from Guangzhou, China. She sang in Little Skylark Children’s Choir for ten years and traveled to World Choir Games and music festivals in Latvia, Italy, Spain, and Germany. She has studied with Ms. Stephanie Henkle at Denison, Ms. Elizabeth Vrenios in Mendocino, California, and Ms. Elizabeth Bice in Vienna, Austria; and is currently studying with Dr. Carolyn Redman. While at Denison, Sherry sang in Denison Chamber Singers and Singer’s Theatre, respectively under the direction of Assistant Professor Harris Ipock and Assistant Professor Belinda Andrews-Smith.

Sherry also studies music composition with Professor Ching-chu Hu, Associate Professor Hyekyung Lee, Visiting Instructor Zachery Meier, and one of Austria’s best-known contemporary composers Gabriele Proy. Her chamber pieces have been performed by New York based string quartet ETHEL, South Korean pianist and Assistant Professor Sun Min Kim, Grammy Award-winning American percussion ensemble Third Coast Percussion, and Denison Chamber Singers.

What’s one take away from your Denison experience?

I couldn’t name one thing because there are so many takeaways I treasure; confirming my passion for music, feeling really connected to and supported by faculties and friends, learning to take good care of myself physically and mentally, taking classes I like without constraints, and so many other things I could write an essay on.

What have you learned about yourself during your time at Denison?

As I come from a city with a 13-million population, I’ve learned on the hill that I actually prefer a quieter life. :)

Do you have post-graduation plans?

I’ll take some time off to read books, make music, travel with my family and friends in China, and then think about the next step.

Sherry recorded her senior recital in China after continuing her education remotely due to COVID.