John Hamilton discovered his passion for DJing in his formative years, spinning for graduation parties and quinceaneras for his high school peers. Over a decade later, he’s unearthed a new passion making audio education accessible to Sacramento youth. Through Department of Sound, the nonprofit he cofounded with partner Tyler Garnett in 2019, he and a team of 15 music professionals teach kids how to craft beats, produce podcasts, write music and more. Hamilton, a Sacramento-born producer and DJ based out of New York City, began his career by studying music and business at New York University. He’s apprenticed for Grammy-nominated artists, opened for musicians