Sheila Kay Adams is a versatile and talented performer. She is a traditional ballad singer, musician, Appalachian humorist, published author, and master storyteller. She has a down-home style with a professional foundation. With a warm, relaxed and genuine presence, Sheila develops an immediate rapport with her audience. Whether singing the ancient story-songs, playing the banjo, performing an original composition, or creating a window into her rich culture by sharing a story about the colorful folks of her small mountain community, she spellbinds audiences of all ages. Sheila is able to draw from a vast amount of material and can provide entertainment in a wide variety of environments. She is also an excellent teacher, providing residencies, workshops, and classes. Having taught in the North Carolina Public School System for seventeen years, as well as presenting in classrooms at hundreds of colleges and universities across the country, Sheila is exceptionally adept in engaging and holding the attention of students in an academic setting. As stated by Richard Thompson, a previous director for the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching, “Sheila’s ability to listen and communicate via the oral or written word is superb...Her understanding of the Appalachian mountain life, people, and social fabric - the subject of her performances - has a universal appeal and touches all of us...even those not from the area.”

Sheila is available for the following performances:

At colleges:

• assembly programs and lectures for the entire student body as well as student / community evening concerts
• classroom presentations in the areas of music, history, English, regional studies, Appalachian studies, women’s studies, & creative writing
• semester residency teaching one / two classes as well as campus and community performances

At schools:

• assembly programs designed for different grade levels - K-3, 4-6, 7-9, 10-12
• visits, discussions, and demonstrations for individual classrooms. (This would involve participation and prior planning with the classroom teacher.)
• ”How to” workshops for teachers with emphasis on motivating students to collect then tell or write their own stories

Professional Meetings and Conventions:

• for educators, storytellers, writers, historians, tourists, church groups, social clubs, service clubs, and other special interest groups
• a gifted and inspirational keynote speaker on a number of interesting topics
• seminars
• panelist
• evening entertainment

Music Camps and Workshops:

• Appalachain unaccompanied traditional ballad singing
• storytelling
• clawhammer banjo