Erin Cole

Erin Cole Steele is the Director of the Division of Education and Senior Educational Clinician for Conn Selmer Inc. Erin also serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor at Arizona State University’s School of Music. Previously, Erin was the Director of Bands at Tapp Middle School in Cobb County, Georgia (1995-2017), where she was named Teacher of the Year. Under her leadership, the Tapp Band received numerous accolades, including performing at the 58th annual Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic. During her tenure at Tapp, she commissioned four pieces of music, including Robert W. Smith's "The Great Locomotive Chase," Frank Ticheli's "Simple Gifts-Four Shaker Songs," Samuel R. Hazo’s ”Ascend," and was part of consortium commissioning Eric Whitacre's "The Seal Lullaby."  

Erin is a contributing editor for Hal Leonard’s Essential Elements for Band.  She has written chapters for three editions of the GIA publication series Teaching Music Through Performance and most recently wrote a chapter for the book Rehearsing the Middle School Band. Erin is an active guest conductor and speaker. She has presented sessions at the Midwest Clinic on several occasions as well as state and international conferences. She has been the guest conductor for numerous All-State and regional honor bands, appearing in over 30 states. She served as the conductor for Youth Bands of Atlanta from 2011-2017 and a conductor for the "Encore" Music Camp for several years. She was the founder and administrator of the Cobb County Summer Band Camp in Georgia. Erin has served as a clinician for the Music for All Summer Symposium and is currently on the teaching faculty and executive director for The Conn Selmer Institute.

Erin Cole Steele earned her bachelor's degree in music education from the University of Georgia in 1995. While at the University of Georgia, she played cello, flute, and piccolo in the University Symphony Orchestra, chamber groups, Symphonic and Concert Bands, and the Redcoat Marching Band.

Erin's professional affiliations include Phi Beta Mu, Sigma Alpha Iota, and the National Band Association, for which she was awarded the Citation of Excellence three times (2015, 2008, and 2003).

As a passionate supporter of school music programs, she continues to remain active in instrumental classrooms throughout the country and enjoys traveling for guest conducting and speaking engagements. Erin now resides in Scottsdale, Arizona where she and her husband Andrew enjoy hiking and biking on the weekends.