Cheryl Wilson holds bachelor degrees in both viola and piano performance and studied with Dr. Bernard Linden, Mac Marlow, Dr. Ruth Cobb and Andreas Poulimenos. Ms. Wilson has performed with the Toledo Symphony, the Atlanta Symphony, the Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra, the Chicagoland Pops Orchestra, the Ravinia Festival Orchestra, Peter Gabriel’s New Blood Orchestra, the Chicago Jazz Ensemble and the Chicago Jazz Orchestra.
She has appeared with Spike Lee, Harry Connick Jr., Nancy Wilson, Mel Torme, Natalie Cole, Kenny G., Michael Bolton, David Sanborn, David Foster, Sarah Brightman, Enrique Iglesias, Andrea Bocelli, Vince Gill, Celine Dion, Jay Z, Mary J. Blige, Mannheim Steamroller, Ray Charles, Josh Grobin, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Jamie Foxx, Beyonce, Smokey Robinson, Peter Gabriel, Patti LaBelle, Tony Bennett, Beach Boys, Brian Wilson, Jewell, Johnny Mathis, Joni Mitchell, and Sarah Vaughn, among others.
Ms.Wilson is also known as an international recording artist as a vocalist. She records in London, Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Atlanta, Nashville and Chicago. Her credits as featured artist as well as backing vocals, recording and performing live, include Michael Jackson, Michael Bolton, Bill Withers, Peabo Bryson, Mavis Staples, Celine Dion, John Martyn, Diana Ross, Phil Collins, Mannheim Steamroller, The Chicago Jazz Orchestra, Seal, R. Kelly, Faith Hill, Peter Cetera, David Foster, Marian McPartland, Whitney Houston and the industrial metal band KMFDM, among others. She records commercials (McDonald’s, CocaCola, etc.) and writes, arranges and records music for television and film (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, My Best Friend’s Wedding, The Guardian, The History Channel, ABC Family and Disney Touchstone productions, etc.) and has appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show with a variety of artists. Ms. Wilson has recorded several #1 UK Billboard Magazine chart hits and her voice can be heard every evening at sunset during Mt. Rushmore’s daily ceremony, singing America the Beautiful.
Ms. Wilson joined the adjunct faculty of the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University in 2009 for Applied Voice, Jazz and Contemporary Studies and joined the adjunct faculty of University of Illinois Chicago in 2012 for Applied Voice, Jazz Studies.