SHUFORD MELISSA

Sarah Melissa

Hand

Owner and Educator, Kindermusik with Sarah/ Flutist, Wilmington Symphony Orchestra

Describe your role and the art you create.

“I teach early childhood music education classes to children from birth to the age of seven years. I create a playful and nurturing environment where the child will experience music of varying styles, genres, and cultures. … I also perform on the flute/piccolo with the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra, and during the concert season I am hired to coach one of the Wilmington Symphony Youth Orchestra Chamber groups.”

What are some of the impacts you’ve made locally?

“I have the largest Kindermusik studio in Wilmington with almost 100 students weekly and was awarded Top Producer in 2022 from Kindermusik International. I was one of 200 educators in the world to receive the Top Producer in 2022, and I was just recently awarded in June a new badge of being fully accredited in all ages of the Kindermusik Curriculum.”

Describe your role and the art you create.

“I am a poet, published author, and spoken word artist. … I am a DJ, telling stories through musical selections, inciting joy and self-expression through dance. I am the owner/CEO of FunkSHUn at the JunkSHUn, an event venue where I help clients plan, execute, and bring their vision to life for their own private events.”

What are some of the impacts you’ve made locally?

“I was invited to guide and instruct students and teachers through a two-hour poetry workshop for their upcoming eighth-grade Poetry Slam. … I offered the keynote address as a content expert at a women’s empowerment event focused on mental health, where I shared original poetry from my published book Unrequited Verses – Honest Deception Painful Growth, highlighting the value of writing as self-expression to improve mental health. I have collaborated with other local poets and created a monthly Open Mic Night.”

Wilgis

Describe your role and the art you create.

“I’m a fine art photographer, specializing in photograms, which are shadow-like photographic images made by placing objects between light-sensitive paper and a light source. My original photograms are made the old-fashioned way: in a traditional darkroom with a dreamy red light. In my art and in my life, I choose to ‘let my light shine,’ and I hope my art will encourage others to do so as well.”

What’s a future goal?

“I love creating photograms in new ways and combining various other processes. I most recently created photograms using both the silvergelatin and the cyanotype process combined. Upcoming, I would like to create a series to which I will add gold leaf to black-and-white silver gelatin photograms. My chosen subjects, combined with the metallic highlights, will create uplifting and positive images that will hopefully encourage others to shine brightly.”