Spotlight on the Arts

CAMP Rehoboth Puts Art at the Heart of the Community 

It Takes a Woman 

March is Women’s History Month, and Women’s FEST is soon upon us. So, it made perfect sense to feature the conductor of the Rehoboth Concert Band, Sharon Still, and to celebrate their March 20 concert, Women of Note. My own musical life has been guided by dozens of fantastic women—all my piano instructors were women, my high school choral conductor, department chairs at the University of Maryland and NYU, composition teachers, mentors…and, of course, my mother, who really needed an accompanist more than a kid! ▼

Doug is the Artistic Director of CAMP Rehoboth Chorus and Minister of Music at Epworth UMC. You can contact him at dougyetter@gmail.com.

In the CAMP Rehoboth Gallery

Mills and More

An exhibit featuring the art of Lee Wayne Mills and works from the CAMP Rehoboth collection. 

This prolific local artist passed away in the summer of 2020 and requested that some of his works be donated to CAMP Rehoboth. Now collectors will have a unique opportunity to view and purchase Mills’ art.

Lee built his art on the foundation of abstract expressionism. In his words, “All of my works echo the fragmented, ever-changing moments of my life, dancing about, alighting, at this moment—a coming together of emotions and ideas—gestures and strokes of paint, ink, cut and torn pieces of cloth and paper, and interwoven shapes.”

Additional works from CAMP Rehoboth’s collection which complement Mills’ work will be incorporated into this exhibit, featuring motion, shapes, the magic of the brush, and themes that intrigue.

Watch for an announcement of a pop-up reception where patrons will have a chance to socialize and purchase art that will be a wonderful addition to any collection. The Mills and More exhibit runs from March 5 through March 31.

FEST Art 2022

Women’s FEST is planning entertainment and some exciting and fun events this year, and we are happy to report that this popular annual art show will be one of them! The arts and artists will be celebrated in an exhibition that features the work of Delaware’s women artists and artists of all genders. CAMP Rehoboth is even more excited to announce that artist Rebecca Davidson will be the juror for the exhibit! FEST Art 2022 runs April 7-30, with an Open House Reception on Friday, April 8 (3:00-5:00 p.m.). ▼

CAMP Rehoboth highlights our community’s unique history and culture, and serves to further diversity, equity, and inclusion, by building unity and understanding. Exhibits may be viewed Monday-Friday (10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.) and Saturday (10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.). View and purchase art on the CAMP Rehoboth website under “SHOP.”

artist SPOTLIGHT
Sharon Still

Doug Yetter: After knowing each other for a decade, I realized there’s a TON about you I don’t know! Tell us about your background.

Sharon Still: I was born and reared in Knoxville, Tennessee, and lived in West Virginia and northern Virginia before Kay—my partner of 44 years—and I moved to Rehoboth Beach in 2012. I began playing trombone at nine, all band instruments in college, and violin and cello afterwards. I earned my BS from East Tennessee State, MS from Radford, and post-grad at University of Maryland and the Peabody Conservatory.

DY: How did the Rehoboth Concert Band come to be?

SS: The RCB is a non-profit co-founded by Kay and me in 2012. Our first concert in February of 2013 was performed by 37 members, and by the next year we’d grown to 61! Our next concert is Women of Note on March 20 at Epworth UMC. It’s a celebration of Women’s History Month and a fundraiser for Cape Henlopen Senior Center. (Details at rehobothconcertband.org) 

DY: I imagine there have been challenges as a woman conductor.

SS: I began my career as a high school band director in the mid-70s—the only female director in the state—and I experienced sexual harassment continually. After school the principal would chase me around the band room trying to hug or kiss me. I quickly discovered that throwing trumpet and trombone mutes at him stopped his advances. When I resigned that position and started a job search, I often heard, “We want a man for the job.” In those days sex discrimination was hard to prove with little law to lean on. I had battles and almost changed my career. But as the years passed, improvements were made, and I persisted because music was my life and I felt I had been given some gifts to share and to give away.

DY: And finally, how do you define success as a musician/conductor?

SS: Success is when I see and hear an appreciative audience—when the music has made them feel something. My responsibility as a musician is to share, to give away music. Success is improvement in the quality of play and a concert well done.▼