Kalman Cherry

Kal Cherry, Life Member of AFM 72-147 and longtime timpanist of the Dallas Symphony (1958-2009), died on March 24, 2025, at the age of 87. Some of the information here comes from a bio written by AFM 72-147 member Lauren Vogel Weiss for the Percussive Arts Society. Kal was born on April 9, 1937 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He graduated from the Curtis Institute in 1958 and joined the DSO after that, having auditioned for Donald Johanos (assistant conductor of the DSO at the time) while still at Curtis. He also taught at SMU for 52 years (1958-2010), as well as at the University of North Texas. In 2008, he was honored by the DSO as he celebrated his 50th season with the orchestra, the mayor of Dallas reading a proclamation recognizing him as one of the country’s leading timpanists. He was pre-deceased by his wife, former AFM 72-147 member Janet Cherry, and is survived by daughters Elizabeth and Jennifer and by several grandchildren.