Pianist adds spiritual speaking to repertoire

Sherry Woodruff is a local concert pianist, music teacher and speaker.

Local music teacher and concert pianist Sherry Woodruff began taking piano lessons when she was very young.

Woodruff quickly found that she not only loved music, but also had a talent for performing and was quite adept at both reading music and playing by ear.

"I started taking piano lessons when I was 8 years old," she said. "When I was 10 years old, I started playing for my church — not because I was good, but because there was no one else to play."

Woodruff loves sharing her passion for music with others and has taught piano lessons ever since high school. Even during her 20-year career as an elementary school teacher, Woodruff says she always had piano students in the afternoon. Her students have ranged in age from 6 to 70.

When she retired from teaching, Woodruff found a new occupation as a worship leader and guest speaker for women's events. In 2012, she led worship or spoke at more than 30 such events.

Woodruff recently recorded her first instrumental album, titled "Here I Am to Worship," which is due for release sometime in February.

When she's not teaching or recording music, or speaking at women's events, Woodruff enjoys spending time with friends and family, and shopping for antiques.

To learn more about Sherry Woodruff's debut instrumental album, email sherry.woodruff@att.net. For more information on the upcoming West Side Christian Women's Conference at the Cinco Ranch Church of Christ, call 713-304-3225, email KatyCWC@gmail.com or visit www.katycwc.org. You can also connect with the Katy Women's Christian Connection on Facebook.

ABOUT Sherry Woodruff
AGE: 54
OCCUPATION: Piano teacher and event speaker
COMMUNITY CONNECTION: Richmond resident
FAST FACT: Woodruff has two grown adopted children

Megan Mattingly-Arthur is a freelance writer. She can be reached at neighborhoods@chron.com.