Cheryl Costello has worked in wide variety of music related careers, from singing opera for the Denver Opera Company, to leading a family bluegrass, folk and Irish family band. After completing a degree in music with an emphasis in music education courses, Cheryl began her career running a successful early childhood music program in Colorado before traveling through almost forty states performing with her family. 

During her travels, she spent several years playing music for older adults at multiple winter resorts, retirement and assisted living communities across the country, eventually settling in Virginia where she worked  with children in the youth department of a library designing and implementing music and literature based programs. While there she presented professional workshops for local preschool teachers on including music into storytimes, as well as presenting for the Library of Virginia’s 2019 Conference. 

Motivated to increase her skills in utilizing music therapeutically, Cheryl returned to school to complete a board certification in music therapy, which included a hospice internship. This additional training equipped her with the skills to work directly with individuals and small groups of older adults and those in memory care, focusing on their personal goals through the use of music therapy and the therapeutic relationship. In addition to her work with older adults, Cheryl continues to research and present wellness workshops for people of all ages. These workshops encompass various modalities, including sound and meditation experiences, drum circles, and music wellness education. Furthermore, Cheryl remains dedicated to her work with children. She is currently a Teaching Artist for Wolf Trap’s Institute for Early Learning through the Arts and has created programs centering around early childhood music education, social/emotional learning through music, and nurturing creative confidence in music. 

With a deep love of music at the heart of all she does, she continues to develop her own music through her love of historical folk music, mainly from European and American traditions. She plays folk music sets that can enhance the atmosphere of events and provides musical programs with a speculative exploration of of how individual timeless songs were used therapeutically throughout western history. 

Cheryl’s primary musical instruments include voice, guitar, flute and Irish whistle/fife, with experience in ukulele, piano, hand percussion, and the mandolin. On the side she works part time as an Education and Outreach Specialist for the Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum, assisting with educational programming, managing memberships, promotion, and coordinating children’s summer camps.