The ranks of ACMP members are filled with professionals who began their college careers with the intent of pursuing music for a living, then for whatever reason moved into another career.

Cheryl Hite is one of those musicians. A native of Detroit, she enrolled at Indiana University in the 1970s as a double major – biology and viola performance. Eventually, she settled on biology and pursued a career as a research scientist, specializing in drug development.

But the viola remained part of her life. Now, in her retirement she is an active member of ACMP and is part of the vibrant musical community in Fort Collins, Colorado. We caught up with Cheryl to learn more about her musical journey. The conversation has been edited and summarized for clarity. – Bob Goetz

When did you start playing chamber music?

I started playing chamber music when I was very young—my early training was influenced by a Suzuki teacher in Detroit. By the time I was in high school, playing chamber music was just what the advanced students did. I continued through high school, and into college at Indiana University, though I stopped playing for a while after switching my major from viola performance to biology.

How often do you play chamber music?

These days, I mostly play in casual reading sessions, probably about 80% of the time, and the rest is more structured, where we rehearse to perform. I play regularly thanks to an amazing local network of musicians here in Colorado, especially in Fort Collins.

How do you find other musicians to play with?

My connections mostly came from local musical leaders in Colorado, especially ACMP members Adwyn Lim and Carol Osborne, who’ve done a great job building a community. Through events like Mahlerfest in Boulder and informal barn concerts Adwyn hosted, and now through gatherings Carol organizes in Fort Collins, I’ve been able to reconnect with chamber music and meet other players. These events are held in homes, churches and even college spaces that support the arts.

What led you to join ACMP?

I joined ACMP about five years ago after hearing Carol talk about her trips to their events. I hadn’t known it existed before then! I’d say my connection to ACMP is indirect—more through the local network that overlaps with ACMP—but it has helped bring together musicians in a meaningful way.

What are your top three all-time favorite pieces to play?

Recently, I’ve especially enjoyed Beethoven’s Op. 130 and 135 string quartets.

What is a happy chamber music moment for you?

One that stands out was playing the Schumann Piano Quintet in E flat major. The fourth movement has fast runs, and as a smaller viola player who’s aging, I can’t quite reach all the notes like I used to, so I had to get creative with fingering. But I nailed it! It reminded me of how far I’ve come, and it was just plain fun.