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ArtsceneNative art has come and goneWoman earnsworld's first master's inThe BeatlesJim WilkesTORONTO STARIts been a bit of a long and winding road, butOakvilles Mary-Lu Zahalan is the first person inthe world to earn a masters degree in TheBeatles.The 53-year-old vocal performance professor atSheridan College received her degree Wednesdayat Liverpool Hope University in the city that gavebirth to the Fab Four.Its been a pretty wild day, she said.Its kind of nice to be the first in the world atanything, but even more so to be the first in theworld to graduate with this inaugural degree.Zahalan was just finishing supper in BlakesRestaurant at the Hard Days Night Hotel whenshe was tracked down a few hours after her convo-cation in the gritty seaside port.ERIC RIEHL / OAKVILLE BEAVERShes staying in the Lennon Suite, which has aAT THE GALLERY: Oakville's Towne Square Gallery hosted the nationally touring Native Art Gallery at its location last weekend, whichwhite baby grand piano, large photographs of featured Inuit sculpture, print and other works. Pictured is artist Moses Amik in front of his painting.Beatle John and a huge patio overlookingLiverpool.Zahalan first learned about the Liverpool pro-gram in the Star in early 2009.Young theatre actor going to Canada GamesThere was a really tiny little article about theprogram that was to be launched in the fall of Though Oakvilles Michael Caccamo isartist represents one of the following disci-2009, a study of the Beatles with a focus on popu-not a national level athlete, he will beplines: dance, music, theatre arts or visuallar music and society, she explained.going to the Canada Games this month toarts. In Caccamos instance, he is repre-It was, she said, her Oh, Wow! moment.showcase his talents nonetheless.senting Ontario in the theatre discipline.A lifelong Beatles fan, she said she was drawnThe 18-year-old Caccamo, a theatreCaccamo is a theatre and film studentby the serious academic approach to a pop phe-student, will be one of three members onat McMaster University in Hamilton.nomenon. Getting people to take her seriouslyTeam Ontarios National Artist ProgramThe artists participate individually andwas another matter.(NAP), representing his province withcollectively within their disciplines as wellA lot of people assume its just a Beatles fanartistic talent.as by interacting with the other artists.bird course, she said. Its nothing of the sort.The games will take place in Halifax,The games will also feature informal andShe said she thinks they made the first courseNova Scotia Feb. 11-27. Each province andformal participation, such as informaleven more challenging academically than it need-territory is sending three individuals forforums and friendly exchanges and formaled to be just so they could soothe the naysayers.the artist program, aged 18 to 22. EachSee More page 26Michael CaccamoSee Canadians page 27$$$For all your Lighting needs$QEWN$$$$With this ad,Fairview Street$$$$Lakeshore Road$PAY CASH, $$$$$NO TAX!$$VISIT OUR NEW Chandeliers Lamps2279 FAIRVIEW ST., BURLINGTON$$LOCATION: Outdoor Lights Ceiling Fans$905.634.5441 905.634.9953$2279 FAIRVIEW ST., $$BURLINGTON Track Lighting Tiffanys225 NEBO RD., HAMILTON$$905.634.5441905.574.8806 905.574.8983 Recessed Lights Lamp Shades$$905.634.9953fiOpen Monday to Sunday$$Brant StreetDrury Ln.Guelph Line25 Friday, February 4, 2011 OAKVILLE BEAVER www.insideHALTON.com