Volunteers Sought for the NS Talent Trust Scholarship Selection Committee

Are you a professional artist interested in helping to shape Nova Scotia’s cultural future? We are currently seeking volunteer jury members to join the Nova Scotia Talent Trust’s Scholarship Selection Committee.

The NSTT Scholarship Selection Committee is made up of 12 professional NS artists, 2 from each of the following artistic disciplines: dance, theatre, music, film/media, literary and visual arts.  

The Committee meets three times a year: twice in the spring to review, evaluate and award NSTT scholarships from potential applicants; and once in the fall, to discuss policy issues and decide who will receive Special Awards from among the successful spring recipients.  The NSTT Scholarship Selection Committee typically reviews between 95-125 applications per year.  

The volunteer committee makes recommendations to the NSTT Board of Directors but is completely arm’s length.  The Committee is seeking professional artistic experience among members and will work to strike a balance between the various artistic disciplines.  The Committee will take into consideration ethnic, cultural and regional diversity and welcomes applicants from all cultural interests.  The Committee reimburses its volunteer jury members for out-of-pocket travel expenses.

Deadline for applications: 17 September 2014

Please send a letter of interest and a short bio together with your résumé to Andrea Dymond, Scholarship Program Coordinator, at scholarship(at)nstalenttrust(dot)ns(dot)ca.  

For more information about the NSTT, please visit our website at www(dot)nstalenttrust(dot)ns(dot)ca

Reeny Smith at the Jazz Festival on July 9

The Halifax Jazz Festival's Nova Scotia Super Soul Review features six of Nova Scotia’s rising star vocalists and a supporting band made up of some of the region's finest emerging talent in R&B and soul.

Reeny Smith (first row on the right)

Reeny Smith was born and raised in North Preston, Nova Scotia. She has been singing and playing piano since the age of five at St. Thomas Baptist Church. She studied piano for three years at the Conservatory Of Music, after which she studied privately with Halifax based pianist Paul Simons. Reeny is currently studying music at St Francis Xavier University.

2011 was a whirlwind year for Reeny. She received the Up and Coming Award at the African Nova Scotian Music Awards, participated as a young artist in the 2011 Canada Winter Games National Artist Program. She also received the 2011 Black Cultural Centre President’s Award. In November, she performed at the 10th annual Portia White Award Gala Concert. She won the Nova Scotia Talent Trust’s Portia White Award in 2010. Reeny received the Rising Star Award at the 2012 African Nova Scotian Music Awards, and the Galaxie Rising Star Award at the 2013 Halifax Jazz Festival. Reeny continues to “wow” her audiences with impeccable vocals, and has been referred to as the Canadian Alicia Keys.

http://halifaxjazzfestival.ca/artist/nova-scotia-super-soul-review