About Sheila Dacus

  • Master of Music, Southern Methodist University (TX)
    • Major in Piano Pedagogy
    • Pi Kappa Lambda Music Honor Society
    • Major Teachers:  Alfred Mouledous (piano); Louise Bianchi and David Karp (pedagogy)
    • Instructor, SMU Piano Preparatory Department
 
  • Bachelor of Arts summa cum laude, University of Jamestown (ND)
    • Majors in Applied Piano and Music Education; Minor in Religion 
    • College Fellow in Music
    • Presser Music Scholar
    • President’s Key (top-ranking graduate)
 
  • Music Teachers National Association Permanent Professional Certificate in piano (NCTM)
 
  • Ruggero Teacher Merit Award, 2016
 
  • Raleigh Piano Teachers Association Yearbook Dedicatee, 2022
 
  • Further Study
    • Private study with Karen Halverhout, UMKC Conservatory professor emerita
    • Intensive workshop training in Suzuki, Kindermusik, improvisation, jazz, and music literacy
    • Numerous seminars, conferences, master classes, and webinars
 
  • Professional Affiliations              
    • Music Teachers National Association
    • North Carolina Music Teachers Association (President Elect; Piano Section Chair)
    • Raleigh Piano Teachers Association (Past President, IMTF Chair, YAA Committee)
    • MusicLink Teacher (musiclinkfoundation.org) 
 
  • College Instructor
    • Judson College at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (NC): Basic Musicianship, Sight Singing
    • Wayne Community College (NC): Applied Piano
    • Mount Olive College (NC): Music Appreciation
    • Blinn College (Texas): Applied Piano, Class Piano
 
  • Adjudicator
    • Raleigh Area Federation Music Festival
    • Cary Apex Piano Teachers Association Sonatina Festival
    • Durham Music Teachers Association Piano Festival
    • NCMTA Piano Performance Festival
    • Music Academy South Ensemble Festival
    • ACSI Piano Festival
    • Cary School of Music Piano Festival
    • Durham Music Teachers Association Nakarai/Withers Piano Competition
    • Missouri Baptist Keyboard Festival
    • Raleigh Conservatory of Music
    • Blinn College Music Festival 
 
  • Accompanist
    • SEBTS Convocations and Graduations
    • Music Academy South Recitals
    • Violin Senior Recitals
    • Raleigh Durham Sacred Chorale
    • North Carolina Charter School Choral Festival
    • Franklin Academy High School Musical Theater, Choral Groups, and Soloists
    • NCMTA Voice Performance Festival

Music has always had a central role in Sheila Dacus's life. A North Dakota native, she started piano lessons with her mother at the age of five and began playing for church services and accompanying school choirs at age twelve. 

Mrs. Dacus discovered a love for teaching piano in college. She has taught group and private piano to preschool through college level students for over 35 years in studios in North Dakota, Texas, Kansas and North Carolina. She is the current President Elect & Conference Chair of the North Carolina Music Teachers Association, Past President of the Raleigh Piano Teachers Association, and has served on the boards of the Kansas City Music Teachers Association and Kansas City Federated Music Teachers. She was founder of the Brenham (Texas) Area Music Teachers Association. Mrs. Dacus has directed adult, youth and children’s choirs, hand bells and piano and instrumental ensembles. She regularly attends conferences, workshops, seminars, and webinars to remain current with trends in pedagogy and serves as a church pianist, accompanist, adjudicator, and collaborative pianist in the community. 

Several of her students have earned the Guild Paderewski (10-year) Gold Medal and the Guild High School Diploma in Piano. She has had students earn prizes in the Raleigh Piano Teachers Association Young Artist Auditions competitions, achieve the highest level ratings in the NCMTA State Piano Performance Festival, the KCMTA Fall Festival, and KMTA Music Progressions, and compete in the MTNA auditions. Several former students have pursued music degrees and careers, while many others have continued in music for personal enjoyment and as church musicians. 

Mrs. Dacus is married and mom to three grown children and grandmother to two beautiful girls. She enjoys reading, gardening, and travel.