Tenor Marcel d'Entremont Wins Prestigious Wirth Vocal Prize

Marcel d'Entremont wins 2018-19
Wirth Vocal Prize

Congratulations to tenor Marcel d'Entremont, who has won McGill University’s 2018-2019 Wirth Vocal Prize.

The Prize recognizes a voice student who demonstrates exceptional talent and significant promise for an international career.

Marcel performed on November 25 with the other three finalists as part of the final round of competition. 

His musical collaborator was pianist and Talent Trust music scholarship recipient Dakota Scott-Digout, who also studies at McGill.

Marcel is a Talent Trust voice scholarship recipient who won the Talent Trust Portia White award in 2013.

Originally from Merigomish, Nova Scotia, Marcel is in Montréal to complete a Graduate Diploma in Performance.

In addition to his Talent Trust scholarship and Portia White Award, Marcel won the Hal Leonard International Vocal Competition and placed first in the Atlantic Young Artist Competition. 

In 2014 he represented Nova Scotia at the National Music Festival of Canada, where he placed first in the vocal division and won the grand award for overall best performer. 

Marcel has performed across Canada, singing the roles of Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor with Opera McGill, Il Podesta in La Finta Giardiniera with Opera Nova Scotia, and Rodolfo in La Boheme with Opera Saskatoon. 

He toured with Jeunesses Musicales du Canada as the title role in Gounod’s Romeo and Juliette as well as Alfredo in La Traviata.

Established in 2015 and awarded annually, the Wirth Vocal Prize brings the winner a $25,000 cash prize and a 14-karat Wirth Prize lapel pin. 

As part of the Wirth Prize win, Marcel is also scheduled to perform at La Chapelle historique du Bon-Pasteur on April 25, 2019.

Julia Barkhouse Plays Alice in Coastal Dance Theatre's Alice in Winterland

Julia Barkhouse in rehearsal for Alice in Winterland. 

Julia Barkhouse plays Alice in Coastal Dance Theatre's Alice in Winterland this weekend at Alderney Landing Theatre.

Julia is one of our newest emerging artists. She received a Talent Trust dance scholarship this year. She'll perform in both Saturday performances of Alice.

Alice in Winterland is created by Coastal Dance Artistic Director Micaela Archer-Shee, who is also a Talent Trust scholarship recipient and an alumna of Halifax Dance and École supérieure de ballet du Québec. 

The ballet follows Alice down the rabbit hole. It's the classic Alice we all know and love, with a wintry twist.

Showtimes
Friday, November 30 - 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, December 1 - 2:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, December 2 - 2:00 p.m.

Tickets
In person: Alderney Landing box office
Online: TicketPro

November 27 is GivingTuesday, A Global Day of Giving. Here's How to Take Part

If you're uninspired by Black Friday or uninterested in Cyber Monday, today is a welcome change of pace. 

Or if you love those days and want to give back after shopping, today is an added bonus.

Today is a day to celebrate generosity.

GivingTuesday is a global day of giving. It's a day when you can make a significant impact with your passion for the arts.

There are a number of ways you can be part of GivingTuesday:

• Consider making a gift today at CanadaHelps.org (direct link to our donation page).
• Help us get the word out on social media, using @nstalenttrust and the hashtags #GivingTuesday and #NSGives.
• Be a social media ambassador and share our Facebook page posts with your network today.
• Take photos and tell your network why you love the Talent Trust and post on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram with #NSGives and #GivingTuesday.
• Or simply do something kind for someone.
• Is there a local artist whose work you admire? An artist you follow on social media, who might not be famous? Tell them how much you like their work.

Here's an infographic from Nova Scotia Gives to show some of the impact of GivingTuesday 2017. 

Thank you for joining us on GivingTuesday!

Holiday Favourite The Nutcracker Returns with Talent Trust Dance Scholarship Recipients in the Cast

Scene from The Nutcracker. This year's holiday favourite runs December 7-16 at the Rebecca Cohn in Halifax.

Holiday favourite The Nutcracker returns to the stage in Halifax December 7-16, with a number of Talent Trust dance scholarship recipients in the cast: Anais Grant Church, Ellery Jackson, Vivian Macnab, Alexis Milligan, Maggie Oates-Johnson, and Mollie Oates-Johnson.

Leica Hardy, who has taught many Talent Trust scholarship recipients through the Leica Hardy School of Dance, celebrates her 28th year as the director/choreographer.

Symphony Nova Scotia, in partnership with Halifax Dance and Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia, presents the magical tale, which features larger-than-life puppets, spirited dancing, and the beloved music of Tchaikovsky.

Details
Rebecca Cohn Auditorium, Halifax
December 7-16, 2018

Tickets
$15 and up (student/child)
$30 and up (adult)

Showtimes vary, with evening and afternoon performances. For more information and tickets, visit the Symphony Nova Scotia website.

Eszter Horvath Sings in Helios Vocal Ensemble Concert An Illuminated Christmas

Soprano Eszter Horvath

Eszter Horvath and her Helios Vocal Ensemble colleagues Elisabeth Stones, Andrew Pickett, Garth MacPhee, and John Mark Dawson present “An Illuminated Christmas” at Saint George’s Round Church on December 2.

Eszter received a Talent Trust scholarship in 2016 to assist with her studies in conducting. 

She holds a Bachelor of Music from Dalhousie University and is currently pursuing a Master of Music in Orchestral Conducting at the University of Toronto. She's a soprano who is equally skilled in orchestral and choral conducting. 

Eszter is the past president of the Early Music Society of Nova Scotia (EMSNS), and was the interim music director at the Cathedral Church of All Saints in 2015–15, and at St. George’s Round Church in 2010–11. 

She was associate conductor of the Nova Scotia Youth Choir in 2013 and 2014, and directs the the EMSNS Madrigal Group, which she founded in 2012. She was music director for Cosi fan tutte at the Halifax Summer Opera Festival in 2016. 

“An Illuminated Christmas” is Helios Vocal Ensemble’s fourth annual Christmas concert.

The evening will feature Renaissance polyphony by Sweelinck, Gabrieli, Mouton, des Prez, Byrd, and others, as well as ancient and modern carols.

Concert details:
December 2, 
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm

St. George’s Round Church
2222 Brunswick St., Halifax

Admission is by donation.

Visit the Facebook event page for further information.

Sara Coffin in Public Showing of Next Wave presented by Mocean Dance, December 1-2

Sara Coffin is in Next Wave. Mocean Dance photo by Michelle Doucette.

Sara Coffin, Susanne Chui, Jessica Lowe, Julie Robert, Liliona Quarmyne, Anastasia Wiebe, and Lydia Zimmer will be joined by special guests for a public showing of Next Wave.

Presented by Mocean Dance, Next Wave is a new creative incubator program for contemporary dance artists. 

Sara Coffin. Photo: Joshua Sugiyama.

Sara Coffin received a Talent Trust scholarship to support her studies in dance. 

She’s been Co-Artistic Director of Mocean Dance since 2011, and recently received a 2018 Arts Nova Scotia Established Artist Recognition Award, which recognizes professional mid-career artists.

Mocean Dance is a Halifax-based contemporary dance company that creates new work rooted in collaborative process, stretches physical & emotional boundaries and finds authenticity.

In Next Wave, seven of Halifax’s next wave of dance artists will share their creative practices and explore new ideas and working methods in emergent and generative ways toward the creation of new works. 

Next Wave provides a framework for collaboration, experimentation, dialogue, peer learning and support. These two events open the process for public view.

Event details:
Decebmer 1 - 8:00 p.m.
December 2 - 3:00 p.m.

DANSpace
1531 Grafton Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 2B9

Tickets available at the door:
$20/$15 students, seniors, artists 
Kids under 12 by donation

For event updates, watch the Next Wave Facebook event page.

You Can Make GivingTuesday a Day for Emerging Nova Scotian Artists

After the hype of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, GivingTuesday is a time to celebrate and encourage activities that support charities and non profits.

Whether it’s making a donation, volunteering time, helping a neighbour or spreading the word, GivingTuesday is a movement for everyone who wants to give something back.

Donate at CanadaHelps

November 27 is GivingTuesday — a day you can make a big impact by helping talented Nova Scotia artists pursue their art education.

With your help, we’ll raise funds for the Talent Trust scholarship fund to make an even bigger difference in the lives of emerging artists of all disciplines.

Here are a few simple ways you can take part:

• Make a gift to the Talent Trust scholarship fund on #GivingTuesdayCa at CanadaHelps.org (direct link to our donation page).
• Help us get the word out on social media: mention @nstalenttrust and use the hashtags #GivingTuesdayCa and #NSGives.
• Take a photo or video and tell your followers why you love the Talent Trust. Post on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram with #NSGives and #GivingTuesdayCa.
• Do something kind for another person.

We believe in the creativity of Nova Scotians. Thank you for joining us on GivingTuesday.

CLICK TO DONATE NOW. THANK YOU!

Karen Myatt Presents Women of the World at the Halifax Distilling Co. on November 30

Karen Myatt caps off a busy year in grand style with her performance Women of the World at the Halifax Distilling Co. on Friday, November 30.

The two-set soirée will showcase some of the finest female vocalists from around the world, including Edith Piaf (France), Lotte Lenya (Germany), Nikka Costa (Italy), Lhasa de Sela (Mexico, Montreal), Shirley Bassey (Wales), and more.

“These are some of my all-time favourite songs by some of my all-time favourite singers,” says Karen. “The cultures may be diverse, but the music is united by the passion of the performances.”

Karen received Talent Trust scholarships to assist with her studies in voice. She attended the Randolph Academy in Toronto, and is a graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City.

She’s had a busy year. In addition to her Symphony Nova Scotia debut with Thorgy and the Thorchestra!, she was the feature performer at Atlantic Fashion Week, and had a pair of sold-out shows at Neptune Theatre.

“We have had an amazing string of shows at the Halifax Distilling Co. this year,” she continues. “Our themed concerts — Jazz Noir, ECMAzing, Acoustique, Calendar Girl, Just Jazz — have brought out the very best in the band, and in myself. I am grateful to Arla and Julie at the Distilling Co. for having us in each month, and appreciative that audiences have been so gracious.”

More information on Women of the World, including ticket details, is available via her website: www.karenmyatt.net.

Calling Composers of All Ages: Marc Djokic and CAMMAC Music Centre Present the CAMMAC Composers Callout

Marc Djokic is a co-sponsor of the
CAMMAC Composers Callout.

Marc Djokic and CAMMAC Music Centre have teamed up to co-sponsor the CAMMAC Composers Callout.

Marc received a Talent Trust scholarship to assist his studies in violin. He’s currently CAMMAC’s artist in residence, where he teaches, performs, conducts research, and will create a commissioned work to be premiered at CAMMAC.

He recently released his debut album, Solo Seven.

The Callout is open to composers of all ages to write an original composition, with an emphasis on encouraging young composers to try their hand at composing. 

There are three age categories: 13 years and under; 14 – 20 years old; 21 years and older.

The winners of each category will receive a modest cash prize, and the winning compositions will be played in concert at the CAMMAC Music Centre in the summer of 2019.

In addition to having their work premiered and recorded, there will be some other great prize elements.

The theme is Music in the Laurentians.

Previously written work is also accepted as long as it hasn't been premiered or received other awards.

Everyone is welcome to submit their compositions, regardless of experience levels.

The deadline is December 15, 2018. Registration fees ($20 CAD) are waived until November 30, 2018.

For more information, visit CAMMAC Composers Callout online.

Lucas March, Clarinetist, Member of Nova Scotia Youth Orchestra in Concert November 24 & 25

Clarinetist and Talent Trust
scholarship recipient Lucas March.

Lucas March is a clarinetist and member of the Nova Scotia Youth Orchestra. 

The Orchestra will be in concert on November 24 and 25 in Lunenburg and Halifax, presenting Beethoven and the Beautiful Blue Danube.

Lucas is from New Glasgow and is one of our most recent Talent Trust scholarship recipients. 

“I wish to thank every supporter of young musicians like me because it encourages me to continue to strive and expand my craft. Being a musician can be extremely expensive. If it weren’t for the generous support of family, friends, community partners, and organizations like the Nova Scotia Talent Trust, I wouldn’t be able to do what I do. 

“I hope to inspire other music students in my community and in the province.” 

On the program:

Beethoven: Egmont Overture
Mendelssohn: Piano Concerto No. 1
Béla Bartók: Violin Duos
Bedřich Smetana: Vltava (Die Moldau)
Johann Strauss: On the Beautiful Blue Danube

When and where: 
Saturday, November 24, 2018, 7:00 pm
St. John’s Anglican Church, Lunenburg
Sunday, November 25, 2018, 7:00 pm
St. Andrew’s United Church, Halifax

For more information, visit the Nova Scotia Youth Orchestra website.

Big Dreams, Big Projects, and a Big Thank You - Our 75th Anniversary Video

Creating a video can be as simple as asking a friend or grabbing a tripod and picking up your smartphone. 

Or it can involve a dedicated group of professionals, the generosity of participants, and support from your community.

We're thrilled with our 75th anniversary video, and we have many people to thank. 

Thank you to scholarship recipients and your families and students, for welcoming us into your homes and studios, and for working with us to create this video:


Fibre art by Sandra Brownlee as seen in our
75th anniversary scholarship campaign video.

• Sandra Brownlee 
• Isaac Fresia 
• Maggie Oates-Johnson
• Michael Hirschbach
• Devin Huang
• Veronique MacKenzie
• Reeny Smith

We're grateful for the grant support:


• Support4Culture program

Thank you for video production locations and support:


• The Music Room
• Leica Hardy Studios
• Artistic Sole
• St. Thomas United Baptist Church
• Halifax Dance
• Dalhousie Arts Centre
• Lynn Stodola
• The Marquee Club
• Gregor Ash, ECMA
• Jeff Lawton, ECMA
• Drew Domokos, Bell Media
• Brian Fisher, Bell Media
• Isaac Fresia’s family for the use of your farm

Isaac Fresia in the field — literally. Looking over house plans on site.

Thank you for the overall support — Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage:


• Marcel McKeough
• Chris Shore
• Meredith Cowan
• Jessica Peddle


Thank you for your expertise:

• Anne Melanson, Bloom Non-Profit Consulting Group
• Carolyn Marshall, Bloom Non-Profit Consulting Group

Cathy Brown of Filet Production Services works on getting the perfect shot.

And a big thank you to the people who put these seven stories together and set them in motion and sound — the people behind the scenes, who have made magic:

• Jeff Fish (“Fish”) and Cathy Brown, Filet Production Services. Your skills and commitment show in every second of the video.

• Mark Cyr, CX Productions, who did a great job of re-scoring bits of the music track to our needs. From Fish: “Trust me, you haven’t even noticed the detail he put into the track overall. It’s a beautiful thing.”

Thank you all. And thank you to everyone who has supported the Talent Trust these past 75 years. We couldn't do it without you.

Jennifer Wang and her son, pianist and Talent Trust scholarship recipient Devin Huang.

Talent Trust Portia White Award Winner Shanice Skinner Performs at the 2018 Portia White Concert

Shanice Skinner is the special guest artist at the 2018 Portia White Concert, where she will perform three wonderful selections from her catalogue. 

The Sackville Concert Band and the Dalhousie Medical Health Professionals Chorale present the 13th Annual Portia White Gala Concert on Friday, November 30, 2018.

The concert will once again take place at Faith Tabernacle, 6225 Summit Street, Halifax. 

Tickets are $20 and can be obtained from chorale and band members, reserved through the Medical Humanities office at (902) 494-1533, or medhuman@dal.ca.

The concert will showcase a varied repertoire that includes seasonal music, concert band and choral favourites, and special tributes to the 100th anniversary of Armistice 1918. 

Shanice Skinner will perform at the
Portia White Concert on November 30.

Shanice is a soprano hailing from New Glasgow, Nova Scotia. She received Talent Trust scholarships in 2016 and 2018, and received the Talent Trust Portia White Award for exceptional commitment and potential in voice in 2016. 

She graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University with an Honours Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance in 2017.

Throughout her undergraduate studies, Shanice performed scene work with Opera Laurier in a number of roles, including Cendrillon in Massenet’s Cendrillon. 

In August 2018, Shanice performed the role of Zerlina in Mozart’s Don Giovanni at Halifax Summer Opera Festival.

This past April, Shanice performed in the Nova Scotia Kiwanis Music Festival in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She won the Voice Rose Bowl and went on to represent the Festival at Provincials in June. She was also awarded the Rose Bowl for Senior Voice at the Provincial Music Festival in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, and was Nova Scotia’s voice representative at the 2018 National Music Festival in Sackville, New Brunswick.

Shanice is a current member of Halifax Camerata Singers and is a Section Lead/Soloist at First Baptist Church Halifax. Her plans for the future include pursuing a master’s degree in voice to further prepare for a career in performance and teaching voice.

Proceeds from the concert will help support a young Nova Scotian musician through the Talent Trust which began in 1944 to assist Portia White with her vocal studies. We have continued to support talented Nova Scotian artists across disciplines in their formative years. 

The Dalhousie University Humanities-HEALS Program is pleased to be able to make a yearly contribution to this worthy cause.

We would like to thank Dr. Wendy Stewart, Ana Bela Sardinha, Bryan Crocker, Jim Forde, the choir members, the Sackville band members, and the many volunteers that will make the concert yet another memorable event.

Meet Devin Huang, one of the Talent Trust's Youngest Scholarship Recipients

Devin Huang began studying piano in 2013, at the age of seven. He one of our youngest scholarship reicpients, receiving scholarships in 2017 and 2018.

Receiving news of a scholarship can change an artist's life.

You’ll meet Devin and his mother, Jennifer Wang, in our 75th anniversary scholarship campaign video.

Devin studies with Lynn Stodola, who teaches young gifted pianists after retiring from a distinguished career with the Fountain School of Performing Arts at Dalhousie University in Halifax.

Competitions can be a big component in the development of a young pianist. Devin was one of the winners of the 2017/18 Chebucto Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition, which earned him the honour of performing with the Orchestra.

He won a gold medal at the 2017 Canadian Music Competition National Finals in Gatineau, PQ, in his age category.

At the 2017 Nova Scotia Kiwanis Music Festival, Devin placed first in Piano Solo (Chopin – Senior), first place in Piano Solo (Bach – 16 years and under), and first place in Piano Sonata (Junior). 

Hours of practice are required to master
piano. Devin is a committed student.

He was recommended by both junior and senior adjudicators to perform at the Festival’s Gala night as Junior Pianist.

He received the inaugural Gordon Murray Rising Star Award at the Gala, and was chosen to represent the Halifax Festival in the Junior Piano and Chamber Music categories at the Provincial Finals.

Devin most recently performed at the Creative Nova Scotia Awards Gala, which celebrates excellence in artistic achievement and includes the announcement of two major awards, the Portia White Prize (not to be confused with the Talent Trust Portia White Award) and the Lieutenant Governor's Masterworks Award.

We’d like to thank Devin and Jennifer for allowing our production team into their home and working so hard to help create our video. Jennifer went above and beyond the call of duty for a non-actor. We would also like to thank Lynn Stodola for all her assistance.




Want to be part of the campaign to double Talent Trust scholarship funds? Click here to donate. And thank you!

Pianist Andrew Son on Final Stop of Atlantic Young Artist Regional Tour November 25

Andrew Son performs in Halifax on the final stop of his Atlantic Canada tour with a free afternoon concert of Chopin, Scarlatti, Mendelssohn, and Rachmaninoff. 

The performance takes place Sunday, November 25.

Andrew is an award-winning pianist who recently captured the 2018 Atlantic Young Artist Competition and the Piano Rose Bowl at the Kiwanis Music Festival in Halifax.

He represented Nova Scotia at the 2015 Canadian Federation of Music Teachers’ Association National Piano Competition in Vancouver. 

Andrew received Talent Trust scholarships from 2014-17. He’s currently a student at Dalhousie University.

The Talent Trust is pleased to co-present Andrew’s Halifax concert with Cecilia Concerts, Nova Scotia Registered Music Teachers Association, and the Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts.

Concert details

Sunday, November 25, 2:00 p.m.

Admission: free

Lilian Piercey Concert Hall

Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts

6199 Chebucto Rd, Halifax

For more information, visit the Cecilia Concerts website.

 

Multitalented Artist Veronique MacKenzie in Talent Trust 75th Anniversary Video

Véronique MacKenzie is a multitalented artist. She and her students worked with us to help create our 75th anniversary scholarship video, and we’re grateful for their participation.

Véronique making dance magic in her studio.

Originally from Montréal, Quebec, Véronique moved to Nova Scotia and received two Talent Trust scholarships to assist with her dance training. 

She’s also a two-time recipient of Live Art’s Diane Moore Scholarship for choreography, and a recipient of a Nova Scotia Established Artist Recognition Award. 

She’s earned scholarship positions in the Interrarium Creative residency at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, and the Centre for Art Tapes in Halifax.

Behind the scenes at our video shoot.
Photo: Filet Production Services.

Her background includes modern dance, jazz and ballet, visual art, clown and fool-work, creative movement, and theatre. 

Véronique has invested in her education. She attended York University and the School of the Toronto Dance Theatre, the National Ballet School / R.A.D. / Checcetti / Vagonova, NSCAD University, Laban International School, Virginia Tanner School/USA, University of New Brunswick, and Theatre New Brunswick. 

She holds degrees in science and social work.

Véronique working with her dance students.

Like a number of other Talent Trust scholarship recipients, Véronique has decided to share her skills and experience with emerging artists through teaching. She’s served on faculty at NSCAD University, Neptune Theatre School, and the Fountain School of Performing Arts at Dalhousie University.

She just wrapped her work as choreographer for the world premiere of KAMP, a co-production of Eastern Front Theatre and Neptune Theatre. KAMP is a darkly comedic new musical about a group of homosexual prisoners interned in a WWII Nazi concentration camp in 1943, who survive their ordeal by creating a cabaret. 

Adjusting a young dancer's costume during dance class.

Véronique is currently taking a year off from her faculty duties at Halifax Dance to work with Neptune Theatre’s Chrysalis Project, which offers emerging theatre artists practical, hands-on experience, where they not only work and create within the Neptune family, but also alongside the broader theatre community.

As part of the Chrysalis Project, she’s working with choreographer Stephanie Graham on Neptune Theatre’s production of Cinderella.

We’d like to thank Véronique and her students for working with us to help create our 75th anniversary scholarship campaign video. 



Want to be part of the campaign to double Talent Trust scholarship funds? Click here to donate. And thank you!