Sheila Felder received a Bachelor of Music Education Degree from Morningside College in Iowa and her Master of Music Education Degree from VanderCook College of Music in Chicago. Mrs. Felder began her teaching career in the Freeport Public Schools as Orchestra Director, where she developed a program from just a fewstudents to over 300. In 2001, she began her tenure as the Director of Orchestras for the Rockford Lutheran schools and eventually became the RLHS Band Director, growing the instrumental program ten times over. Currently, she is the Orchestra Director at DeKalb High School and co-teaches at Clinton Rosette Middle School, where the programs have rapidly expanded and even moved into larger facilities. Her orchestras have consistently been awarded superior ratings at both state and national competitions, including a state first place in IHSA Solo & Ensemble Orchestra, two years in a row. Mrs. Felder has traveled and conducted in Europe with the Illinois Ambassadors of Music Orchestra for the past twelve years. She has received numerous teaching awards, including the Distinguished Service Award from the Illinois American String Teachers Association, the Rockford Rotary Club Teacher Award and twice as a member of a Grammy Signature School Music Department. She has been a Finalist for the Golden Apple Foundation Teacher Award twice.

Mrs. Felder is the Tri M Advisor for DeKalb High School, has served as Adjunct Faculty for the Northern Illinois University School of Music and is a representative for the Illinois Music Educators Association. She is a cellist in the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra and active musician in the Tri-State area. Mrs. Felder is also an advocate for harp education in schools. In addition, she is especially proud of the number of her former students who have chosen a career in music. She enjoys spending her free time with her husband and two daughters, who are both musicians.