Tim Butler grew up in the DC area.  He played with the DC Youth Orchestra and studied with Daniel Rothmuller and Marc Johnson. He graduated from Columbia College at Columbia University with a bachelor's degree in classical Greek. He continued his cello studies with Pierre Fournier in Geneva, and with Fritz Magg at Indiana University.  He was a member of the Detroit Symphony before returning to the DC area.  He joined the cello section of the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra in 1987.