Erin Cole Steele has had a very successful career as a middle school band director for the past 22 years. She served as the band director at Tapp Middle School in Cobb County, Georgia, from 1995–2017 and was named "Teacher of the Year" in 2016. Under her leadership, the Tapp Band honors included being selected to perform at the 58th annual Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, Illinois, in December of 2004. The band has been a featured performing group at the University of Georgia Middle School Band Festival in 2015, 2008, 2003, and 1999. 

Erin has written articles for The Instrumentalist magazine and has been a contributing editor for the publication. She has also served as a clinician for the Music for All Summer Symposium and is currently on the teaching faculty at The Conn Selmer Institute. She has presented several sessions at the Midwest Clinic and many state conventions. In 2007, 2010, and 2014 Erin has written chapters for the popular GIA publication series Teaching Music Through Performance. Mrs. Steele now works as an educational clinician and consultant for Conn-Selmer and the Hal Leonard Corporation. She was awarded the National Band Association’s Citation of Excellence in 2015, 2008, and 2003. Ms. Cole's professional affiliations include Phi Beta Mu, Sigma Alpha Iota, National Band Association, and the Georgia Music Educators Association. Erin currently resides in Scottsdale, Arizona, with her husband Andrew.