Acclaimed by the Boston Globe as “an expert player,” and the New Jersey Star Ledger for her “wonderful technique and creamy sound,” Grammy-nominated and native Houstonian, Courtenay Vandiver Pereira, cello, is a founding member of the self-conducted chamber orchestra, A Far Cry.

A passionate chamber musician, Ms. Vandiver Pereira has performed with the St. Petersburg, Borromeo, and Jupiter String Quartets. Festival appearances include Ravinia, Yellow Barn, Sarasota, Schleswig-Holstein, Leipzig BachFest, and the New York String Orchestra Seminar.

Featured on Houston Public Media and Classical 91.7, she plays with ROCO, Mercury: the Orchestra Redefined, the Houston Grand Opera, and the Houston Ballet. Prior to that, she won a two year fellowship as a Young Artist with Da Camera. She played for Billy Graham’s My Hope Campaign that was televised before millions across the United States and Canada. Her music can be heard regularly on iTunes and iHeart Radio.

Versatile as a performing artist, she has rocked for Josh Groban, the Transiberian Orchestra, Kristin Chenoweth, Jethro Tull, Eurythmics’ frontman Dave Stewart, and Peter Gabriel. She also writes worship songs and loves experimenting with the pedal board she built for her cello, which is named Noah. Ms. Vandiver Pereira earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from New England Conservatory (with Academic and Artistic Distinction) under the guidance of Laurence Lesser and Paul Katz. She is a recipient of The Yellow Rose of Texas. Presented by former Governor Ann Richards, the award is given only through the Office of the Governor and recognizes women for their significant and outstanding contributions to the State of Texas.