BIOGRAPHY

Biography

     Sheryl Brame is an alumnus of the Robbinsdale Area Schools.  She grew up in New Hope, Minnesota where she attended Meadow Lake Elementary, Hosterman Junior High and Robbinsdale Cooper High School.  She received a Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Education from Bethel College and fulfilled her K-12 student teaching requirements in Robbinsdale (Plymouth Middle School and Armstrong High School) and Osseo (Elm Creek and Palmer Lake Elementary Schools).  In 2008, Sheryl completed her Master’s Degree in Music Education (Choral) at St. Thomas University in St. Paul, Minnesota.   Her completed master's thesis is titled, An Investigation to Determine The Assessment Practices of Sight-Singing In A High School Choral Setting.

     Before coming to Robbinsdale Cooper High School in 1994 to be the Director of the Choral Program, Sheryl began her teaching career at Eden Lake and Prairie View Elementary Schools in Eden Prairie, MN.  While at Cooper High School, Sheryl taught and directed the Varsity Choir, Madrigals, Bel Canto Choir, Bel Canto Singers, Concert Choir, and Chamber Singers.  In addition, Sheryl chaired the Music Department and had been the Director, Co- Director (Chorus Line, Anything Goes, Hello Dolly, Joseph, Guys and Dolls, Bye-Bye Birdie, West Side Story, Godspell, Music Man and Grease) and Vocal Director of the musicals.  A highlight for Sheryl while teaching at Cooper High School was when the Chamber Singers had the distinct honor of meeting and performing for President Obama at a Honeywell Fundraiser in Golden Valley, MN! 

     While a student at Cooper High School, Sheryl was in the chorus of Oklahoma, played the role of Marian in Music Man (along side Steve Zahn), and played the role of Dolly in Hello Dolly.  She graduated with honors and was awarded the Most Outstanding Senior Girl Award. 

     At Bethel College, Sheryl sang under the direction of Dr. Robert Berglund in the Bethel College Choir wearing the hats of Soprano Soloist, Soprano Section Leader, and Student Director.  Sheryl has studied voice with Gerald Sundberg, Timothy Sawyer, Jan Hendrickson, Glenda Maurice, and James Buxton.  She was awarded the Bernard and Winnie Rust Music Scholarship, the Bethel College Vocal Music Scholarship, and the Most Valuable Member of the Bethel Choir Award in 1991. 

     After college, Sheryl sang in the Minnesota Chorale and performed numerous opera roles in Tosca, Elixir of Love, and Hansel and Gretel with the Anoka Opera Ensemble and Opera 101.  Currently, Sheryl is a free-lance soprano soloist, private voice and piano teacher, adjudicator and guest speaker.  She is an active member of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), Minnesota Music Educators Association (MMEA) and the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA).  She also was an active member of the Comprehensive Arts Planning Program (CAPP), Robbinsdale Arts Advisory Board (RAAB), and a board member of the Cooper Performing Arts Booster Organization (CPABO).  Sheryl has hosted and been the Site Manager for Classic Lake Conference Events (Mixed Choir and Treble Choir Festivals), Region 6AA State Large Group Vocal Contests, and the Region 6AA State Vocal Solo and Ensemble Contests.  Music has also given Sheryl the opportunity to be a All-State Choir Section Leader, conduct at Orchestra Hall and St. Olaf College and allowed her to travel to Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Poland, Germany, Austria, Italy, Ukraine, and all around the United States.   

     In the fall of 2006, Ms. Brame was selected to direct the Bethel University Women’s Chorale.  She was thrilled to be back on campus working at her other alma mater! 

     In 2013, Sheryl was given the opportunity to be the Director of the Choral Program at Mounds View High School.  After completing a year at this job, she underwent unexpected shoulder surgery that summer.  For the 2014-15 school year, Sheryl went to physical therapy to regain the use of her shoulder and worked part-time as an elementary music teacher at Zimmerman and Bel Air Elementary Schools in the Elk River and Mounds View School Districts.

     Sheryl is excited to be working with elementary students at SHPA!  She is enjoying spending time with all the talented and skilled musicians at this awesome school!  This will be her thirtieth year of teaching and her ninth year at SHPA working as a K-5 Music Specialist.  She is looking forward to another wonderful year of  creating fun and interesting musical experiences and observing the amazing achievements of each unique student in the classroom and on the stage!