Many have had Mrs. Hamilton as an English teacher, advisor, or cross-country coach. However, this is only the tip of the iceberg in terms of her many talents. New students at Belmont Hill may not know this about her, but Mrs. Hamilton is a top-tier singer among her other talents.

Mrs. Hamilton’s passion for music started at a very young age. Growing up in rural Connecticut, she was surrounded by talented musicians– her mom plays the piano, her dad played electric and acoustic guitar while also singing. She would hear artists such as The Rolling Stones, Frank Sinatra, and Metallica all around the house. She can’t remember not singing, as she would always be singing along to these songs.

When she reached elementary school, she started performing with her dad. It wasn’t anything “really formal or professional, but we would perform in little town shows that were going on, or we would go visit retirement centers and sing along there. There was a lot of town theater that I would get involved in from an early age.”

Once she was in high school, she joined the choir and a capella group, further honing her singing skills. She also continued with theater, auditioning for a bunch of musical plays, which she would continue into college.

Theater, as previously mentioned, was a big part of Mrs. Hamilton’s musical experience. The first play she ever watched was the Wizard of Oz, which really got her into musical theater. One of her favorite musicals is “Anything Goes.” She says it’s interesting, because “I’ve been in it three times, and I’ve always gotten the same role. Every time you come to a role, kind of like every time you read a book, you notice something different about it.” She’s been able to find new interpretations for the character in each read-through and even learn things about herself.

Now, Mrs. Hamilton says that she “wishes music was a bigger part of her life at this moment”, as she’s only really engaging with music when jamming in the car. However, it’s not like she doesn’t perform at all anymore. Her most recent performance was during a faculty meeting where she sang “You Got a Friend in Me” to commemorate Mrs. Sweeney’s retirement. Make sure to keep your ears open for Mrs. Hamilton and her upcoming performances.