LIFESTYLES DanielleHamiltonisMentoroftheArtsAwardwinner Sun Festival presented award on Monday afternoon

Phil Melnychuk

Contributing Writer

Danielle Hamilton is this year ’ s recipient of the Sun Festival Mentor of the Arts Award.

Hamilton was presented with the honour on Monday afternoon as part of the Tsawwassen Sun Festival.

Hamilton is musical director at South Delta Secondary, where she’s worked since 2000

As a mentor-teacher, she’s taught music, musical theatre, band, choir, orchestra and guitar to hundreds of kids over the years and provided them with a foundation and outlet that will last their entire lives.

Hamilton is a “much loved, local musical mentor,” said Sun Fest committee member Jennifer Bach

Not only has Hamilton directed several school musicals, the band and choirs she leads have collected several gold medals at festivals over the years including recent wins in Whistler, Bach added.

While she teaches full-time, Hamilton also tries to practise what she preaches by singing with the Phoenix Chamber Choir in Vancouver.

“You can’t be a good teacher, or mentor if you don’t keep in it, yourself. You lose perspective,” she said.

Hamilton said it’s the second time she’s received the award, after winning in 2015 when she was director of the Delta Community Choir.

Those who nominated her this year, singled out her efforts to keep music alive when the pandemic hit in 2020.

With choirs one of the activities shut down, Hamilton found ways to keep kids singing, such as having them meet outdoors in groups of five, with the proper distance between them, then having them lip synch, so the video could be mixed with previous recordings.

She did 20 of those videos over two years and was musical director for the school’s Mamma Mia musical, for a remote audience, and in 2022 directed music for the Addams Family musical.

Kids have gone through a tough time with COVID-19, she added

“I’ve literally had a kid graduate this year say, ‘Music saved me If it wasn’t for music, I don’t think I’d be here,’” she said “These kids need an outlet, something other than their telephone or their iPad”

Hamilton has her own studio at home and is a classically trained pianist with a degree in jazz from UBC and likes classical music, but her favourites are jazz, gospel and blues

Adele is one of her favourite artists, but she also likes Lin-Manuel Miranda, who wrote the Broadway musical, Hamilton.

Hamilton points out that she’s distantly related to Alexander Hamilton, one of the founding fathers of the U S , after which the musical is named and with whom she shares a birth date.

“I’m so blessed, that all I do is teach music, all day long,” Hamilton said. “It’s a huge blessing to do what I love”

Joyclyn Storr Brown’s art featured in new show

LAUREL JOHNSON

Contributing Writer

From Aug. 18 to 27, art enthusiasts and connoisseurs will be treated to a truly unique experience at Gallery 1710 in Tsawwassen

The upcoming art show features renowned artist Joyclyn Storr Brown, celebrated for her watercolour paintings and evocative sketches that capture the subtle beauty of everyday life.

The upcoming art show features renowned artist Joyclyn Storr Brown, celebrated for her watercolour paintings and evocative sketches that capture the subtle beauty of everyday life. She will also be showing oil paintings and fashion drawings from the 1940’s and on, demonstrating her expansive career

Brown has long been admired for her masterful use of watercolours, which infuse her artwork with an enchanting and dreamlike quality She has a keen eye for detail, evident in the way she portrays the world with a poetic touch In her pieces, she expertly captures the interplay of light and shadows, weaving delicate hues that breathe life into her subjects, whether it be a still life composition or a tranquil landscape. What truly makes this art show stand out is the collective effort of the group of artists that she meets with every Friday, affectionately known as the Friday Group or TGIF. The camaraderie and shared appreciation for art have led to a synergy that permeates the exhibit Each artist brings their own unique perspective and style to the easel, resulting in a rich tapestry of artistic expression. The diverse range of mediums and techniques, including watercolours, sketches, mixed media, and sculpture promises to offer a captivating visual feast.

The theme of quiet observation that echoes through the show encourages visitors to slow down and immerse themselves in the art Amid the hustle and bustle of modern life, this exhibition serves as a poignant reminder to cherish the often-overlooked moments of tranquility that surround us The artworks beckon viewers to take a step back, appreciate the finer details, and find beauty in simplicity.

On Saturday, Aug 19 there is an opening reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Artists will be on hand to discuss their work Gallery 1710, home of the South Delta Artists’ Guild, is located beside the South Delta Rec Centre and is open Friday to Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Admission is free

The golf balls first

“Pay attention to the important things in your life…” is what I hear in the story of Martha and Mary, Luke 10:38-42

A recently appointed professor walked into the classroom. The students could not wait to get started, but without even saying ‘good morning’ the professor placed an empty mason jar on the desk and started filling it with golf balls

Then he asked the students if the jar was full They agreed it was!

Then he poured small pebbles into the same jar filling the open space between the golf balls. The professor again asked the students if the jar was full. Once again, they agreed! Next, he picked a bag of sand and

Minister’s Minute

St Davids Anglican Church poured it into the jar filling the space between the golf balls and pebbles. Again, he asked the students if the jar was full.

The professor then said, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life The golf balls represent the important things: your family, children, health, friends, and passions. If everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full The pebbles represent the other things in life that matter, such as your job, house and car

The sand is everything else, the small stuff! If you put the sand in first, there is no room for the pebbles or golf balls”

The same goes for life

If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the most important things So, pay attention to the important things in your life… the golf balls first the rest is just sand.