Sheela Das is the artistic director and founder of Creative Concepts in Music. With more than a decade of teaching through the arts, she has directed, produced, and delivered compelling workshops and original stage and video productions for students, community members, and professional venues alike.

From songwriting workshops, instrumental music, playwriting and puppetry camps to classroom residencies, Sheela brings her multi-instrumental talent to the joy of hundreds of audiences each year. She has composed more than 350 original, interactive songs and 49 Youtube videos to teach the curriculum in grades K-12 in subjects ranging from social emotional learning to language arts and science. By engaging with Sheela’s songs, students struggling with basic literacy skills (including English Language Learners) demonstrate enhanced academic performance. Her music and compassionate approach gently connects with whole classrooms and models effective arts integration for teachers and administrators. Creative, original performances at festivals and schools are a signature of Sheela’s work. Her passion for the arts and audience engagement skills are sought-after.

Highlights of Sheela’s artistic career include artist-in-residence experiences with the Ohio Arts Council’s TeachArtsOhio program in Cleveland, Delaware, and Toledo, Ohio (2018-2024). Bringing students to the stage presenting their original lyrics, plays, or instrumental performances are key outcomes. Sheela has frequently been commissioned by James Levin (founder of Cleveland Public Theater, One World Festival, and Firefish Festival) to produce stage and artistic works (2016-2018). She was commissioned by international recording artist, producer, and musician Todd Rundgren to share his Kennedy Center for the Arts residency at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana (2016) where she modeled arts integrated lessons and provided district-wide professional development workshops using her music. In 2014, Sheela performed with the touring band Spyder Stompers and Sugar Pie, at the prestigious Brooklyn Folk Festival in New York. She is a regular musical performer throughout Northeast Ohio with her band SATO (1960s-2010s rock and original music) and with the John McGrail Group.

RECENT PROJECTS: TeachArtsOhio residency – Literacy through the Arts, Natividad Pagan International Newcomers Academy (Cleveland), Students in grades Pk-9 experienced creative songwriting, playwriting, puppetry and performance during a 120 day-long residency.

Afterschool drumming, Dike School of the Arts, Grades 2-3: Students spent two hours a week working with the artist to create new rhythms and practice together to explore creativity and collaboration.

Availability

Upon request