Doris Hamilton - a "Lifetime of Achievement in the Arts"

Influential music educator and theater director Doris Hamilton will be the guest of honor at the 18th annual Prairie Arts Council Gala, Mardi Gras Masquerade, set for 7 p.m. Saturday, February 2, 2013, at Ye Olde Underground Inn in Princeton. Hamilton will be presented with the 4th annual Lifetime Achievements in the Arts award.

Hamilton was a graduate of Tiskilwa High School, received a bachelor’s degree from Western Illinois University, and did graduate study work at the University of Illinois and Illinois State University.

Hamilton served as a music education teacher for Tiskilwa Elementary and High Schools for 35 years, providing K-12 music, theater and education pro-grams for students. During her tenure at Tiskilwa schools, she developed a “Kids from Tiskilwa” group who performed throughout Illinois and were invited to participate in an event at Disney World and SeaWorld in Florida. Hamilton was a cooperative consultant for the Illinois Board of Education and a student teacher supervisor for Illinois State University. She has been recognized as an Out-standing Teacher by the Institute for Development of Educational Activities and Outstanding Arts Educator in the state of Illinois by the Illinois Arts Alliance.

In addition to her involvement with K-12 education, Hamilton served as direc-tor of the Homestead musicals during Princeton’s annual Homestead Festival for 35 years. She also directed several musicals at the Henry Dinner Theater.

Hamilton served as musical director for PAC productions of The Secret Garden in 2006 and Godspell in 2012.

Continuing her community arts involvement, Hamilton currently teaches voice and piano for private clients, serves as the church organist and choir director for Tiskilwa Community Church, is a contest judge for the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) and the Illinois Elementary School Association (IESA), and is a member of the Princeton Elementary School Board.

Hamilton joins previous Lifetime Achievement in the Arts award recipients Dick Dorsch, Nedda Simon, and Mary Win Norris.

The Mardi Gras Masquerade gala starts at 7 p.m. in the banquet room of Ye Olde Underground Inn with jazz enter-tainment being provided by Al and Jeannie Brown. A live and silent auction will follow, including some great hand-made creations from local artists, items from local businesses and much more!