Photo by Gary Benson
I grew up in a musical family. My father, Robert Hamilton, is a pianist and music professor, and my mother, Beverley, was a beloved music educator in the public schools until her retirement a few years ago. At four I began piano lessons with my dad. At seven, I added violin lessons, and then added viola when I was 14, studying with my dad's colleague, violist Jeffrey Irvine. I often played with my father and brother, cellist Gregory Hamilton, and we spent our Saturday mornings at Youth Symphony. I loved playing music as a soloist and in ensembles, in all-state orchestras, and at summer music camps - Tanglewood, The Quartet Program, and Brevard.
I started college as a Viola Performance major at the Eastman School of Music. And though it was an excellent music conservatory and Heidi Castleman was an excellent teacher, I was dismayed that so many of my fellow students were so stressed and unhappy, and I was starting to get a glimpse of an adult classical music world that was cynical and competitive rather than collegial and in love with music.
And so, after two years at Eastman, I changed course: I got a BA in Sociology and a Master's in Psychology, and continued to play music on my own terms. And in the early 2000's, in addition to playing classical music on the side, I studied Celtic fiddling at The Riley School for Irish Music and played in a ceilidh band.
I still perform on both violin and viola, and have played both Celtic/folk and classical music in various ensembles. Fortunately I completed advanced music theory before I left Eastman, and now use those skills to compose and arrange music. https://soundcloud.com/acoustic-cadence
I am a former full-time mother with two adult children, now in their 20s. I love spending time with young children, especially now that my own are grown.
I also spent several years as a consultant in organizational psychology. However, music is still my first love, and by weaving a bit of psychology into my teaching and performing, I have found the perfect balance of both.
I started college as a Viola Performance major at the Eastman School of Music. And though it was an excellent music conservatory and Heidi Castleman was an excellent teacher, I was dismayed that so many of my fellow students were so stressed and unhappy, and I was starting to get a glimpse of an adult classical music world that was cynical and competitive rather than collegial and in love with music.
And so, after two years at Eastman, I changed course: I got a BA in Sociology and a Master's in Psychology, and continued to play music on my own terms. And in the early 2000's, in addition to playing classical music on the side, I studied Celtic fiddling at The Riley School for Irish Music and played in a ceilidh band.
I still perform on both violin and viola, and have played both Celtic/folk and classical music in various ensembles. Fortunately I completed advanced music theory before I left Eastman, and now use those skills to compose and arrange music. https://soundcloud.com/acoustic-cadence
I am a former full-time mother with two adult children, now in their 20s. I love spending time with young children, especially now that my own are grown.
I also spent several years as a consultant in organizational psychology. However, music is still my first love, and by weaving a bit of psychology into my teaching and performing, I have found the perfect balance of both.