OUR EDUCATORS

With over 30 years to teaching experience, and a successful performance career in military bands, the Director of Percussion Education is driven to inspire the next generation of drummers to get on the stage.

 

Her musicianship was recognized as early as 3-years old when she started singing for school events.  Yet she was also found tapping on makeshift drums using pencils and tree limbs. Her formal drum education started with Rudimental Sage John Bosworth in a local drum corps ,where she honed her rudimental chops. Although originally self-taught on the drum set, she was introduced to Jazz, Funk, R&B and classical percussion by her high school band director. This led to full percussion study at WVU, and subsequently earning a position as a Percussionist in The United States Air Force Band, Washington, DC.  

Intense kit study began after arriving in The AF Band with Air Force Veteran Ronnie Shaw.  Shaw instituted rigorous study in independence, polyrhythms, groupings and rudiments. After many years with Shaw, she continued studies with Curtis Kendrick, further exploring Funk, R&B, Jazz and Gospel.  For 10-years, she honed her gospel chops as the drummer for Lighthouse Baptist Church Women's Gospel Choir.

Half way through her military career, Sheila traded the drum sticks for the conductors baton in her new role as Commander / Conductor and Musical Director in the 257th Army Band. She, however, sustained her passion for the kit cultivating a strict home study drum set regime.

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Her intense self-study paid off In 2020 when she won the International Drum Set Competition

"Hit Like A Girl" where she now serves as a judge for the contest.  Alongside her Instructor duties at King's Christian Academy, she Maintains a private percussion studio where her students earn robust scholarships to colleges.

 

An active freelance drummer, percussionist, and recording artist in the Mid-Atlantic region, Sheila

is an Educator Clinician with WFLIII Drums and endorses TRX Cymbals.

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