Meet Sherry Ellis | Musician, Author, & Executive Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sherry Ellis and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sherry, what habits do you feel helped you succeed?
I have always been very disciplined. Even as a young student, I made sure I carved out time every day to practice my instruments. It was part of my routine. This consistency helped me develop the skills necessary to reach a professional level. I’m also very organized. I create checklists of all the things I need to accomplish in a week. Do I always complete them by the end of the period? No. But it keeps me focused on the things I need to do to run my business. I also believe in doing the best job I can do and giving it one hundred percent.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I have been a musician and author for over thirty years. My career has been multi-faceted. As a musician, I perform with orchestras and teach. I’m currently the principal violist of the Georgia Philharmonic and Gwinnett Symphony Orchestra. I also teach violin, viola, and piano lessons at a conservatory in Johns Creek called Musik21. Some of the highlights of my musical career include being a semifinalist in the 2004 International Viola Competition in Paris, France, performing as a soloist in Germany, and performing Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody for Viola and Orchestra with The Georgia Philharmonic at Dragon Con 2024. I am also the Executive Director of the Georgia Philharmonic. Managing the business side of an arts organization has added a nice balance to my career.

As an author, I have ten published books. Most are children’s books—picture books and middle-grade books. I enjoy attending author events and connecting with young readers at school and library visits.

Has it been easy? Not always. It has taken hard work and determination. I often share the story that it took ten years of revising and querying to finally find a traditional publisher for my book, Bubba and Squirt’s Big Dig to China. Perseverance is the key to success.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Some of my favorite places in Atlanta include the Aquarium, Botanical Gardens, World of Coca Cola, and the Zoo. My favorite hangout places are in the city of Roswell. It has a bit of history, hiking trails, and a variety of restaurants. After visiting the Smith Plantation, Barrington Hall, and Bulloch Hall, you can enjoy a meal at The Mill Kitchen and Bar. Then you can take a walk along the scenic Chattahoochee River. At the end of the day, you can treat yourself to a fantastic meal at Vin 25. If you’re into the paranormal, I’d suggest taking the Roswell Ghost Tour which visits the old cemeteries and gives insights about the residents who used to live there.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have so many people to thank. Without them, I wouldn’t be where I am today. My parents were instrumental in developing my love of books, providing years of music lessons, and encouraging me to follow my dreams. I am so grateful for my teachers who helped me hone my skills. Specifically, I would like to recognize my viola teachers, Jeanette Meyer and Lucien Joel of the Cleveland Orchestra. They were fantastic mentors who are the models for my own teaching style. I’d like to give a shout out to my high school orchestra director, Wayne Miller, for encouraging me to pursue a career in music. There have been so many people I’ve met along the way who have given me opportunities to perform—most recently, Tamara Dworetz and the Georgia Philharmonic. Words cannot express my gratitude to each of them.

I would be remiss not to include the many people of the writing community who have helped me. I am grateful to the members of my critique groups in Cincinnati and Atlanta. Authors Debbie D’Aurelio, Kim Zachman, Lisa Tyre, Lela Bridges, Danny Schnitzlein, and Kristine Anderson are incredibly talented writers who gave me excellent advice to help polish my stories. I am profoundly grateful to L. Diane Wolfe at Dancing Lemur Press for giving Bubba and Squirt a chance and publishing all of their adventures.

Lastly, I would like to thank my family, friends, and readers who have encouraged me throughout my journey. Their kindness and support have made it all worthwhile.

Website: https://www.sherryellis.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sherry_ellis_author/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sherry-ellis-71585521/

Twitter: https://x.com/513sherrye

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sherryellisbooksandmusic/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sherryellis4456

Other: Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sherry.ellis.author
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/sherryellisauthor.bsky.social

Image Credits
Musician Images Photo credit: Eric Burkard