Nova Scotia Talent Trust Continues to Invest in Emerging Artists with $72,000 in Scholarships

 

October 3, 2023 - MEDIA RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE USE

The NS Talent Trust Continues to Invest in Aspiring Nova Scotian Artists.   3 October 2023 Halifax/K'jipuktuk, NS    Having completed the scholarship selection process for 2023, the NS Talent Trust has awarded scholarships to 41 emerging Nova Scotian artists from all over the province who are pursuing studies in Dance, Music, Theatre, Film, Literary Arts, and Visual Arts.   This year's Talent Trust recipients come from Guysborough, East Chezzetcook, Windsor Junction, Hammonds Plains, Prospect, Maitland, Northside East Bay, Greenhill, Upper Kennetcook, Mineville, Hackett's Cove, Hantsport, Brookside, Lower Sackville, as well as Bedford, Dartmouth and Halifax.  It is incredible to see aspiring artists hailing from so many Nova Scotian communities.  Many will begin their artistic journeys in schools and programs all around the world, from Toronto and New York to Italy and Scotland. Whatever path they choose, this year's scholarship recipients represent the very best of Nova Scotia's talent. Beginning with the very first scholarship recipient, Portia White, NSTT scholarship recipients consistently promote and enhance the Arts & Culture sector in Nova Scotia.  With the support of the NSTT, they have the opportunity to perfect their craft with some of the best mentors and programs the world has to offer.  Just as Portia White built a successful career and long-lasting legacy, many other Talent Trust recipients have gone on to do the same - artists like Reeny Smith, Breagh Isabel, Shauntay Grant, and Walter Borden.  With over $2.5 million in scholarships to more than 1000 artists since 1944, there are endless stories of incredible creativity, perseverance, and success among the Talent Trust alumni. Our scholarship recipients are chosen through a thorough and collaborative process by the Scholarship Selection Committee.   This Committee functions independently and is comprised of twelve professional artists representing the six disciplines of Music, Dance, Film, Theatre, Literary Arts, and Visual Arts. The Committee members volunteer their time and expertise to review applications, provide the recipients with meaningful feedback, and name the scholarship recipients based on their skill, dedication and potential.  It is with sincere gratitude to the Scholarship Selection Committee members that we present this year's scholarship recipients.    This year's 51 successful scholarships were chosen from a field of 106 applications over two submission periods ending March 1st and May 1st 2023. Five scholarships of $2000 each are supported by the Creative Nova Scotia Leadership Council Nova Scotia Arts Endowment Fund.  This year's recipients are Devon Pennick-Reilly, Anisa Sobhani, Michelle Hebert, Sahara Nyathi, and Lucas Arab.  The CN Halifax Community Fund Scholarship was established in 2021 by the CN Halifax Community Board.  This $1,000 scholarship goes to contemporary dancer, Joel Lawrence. The Anne-Marie Woods/Imani Enterprises African Diaspora Travel Scholarship of $1000 was generously sponsored by Anne-Marie Woods, past Talent Trust scholarship recipient. The recipient of this scholarship is Harmony Adesola. Together with our generous donors, sponsors, and supporters, the Talent Trust was able to award $72,000 in scholarships in 2023.  Our sincere thanks go to Arts Nova Scotia, the RBC Foundation, the CN Halifax Community Board, the Craig Foundation, Anne-Marie Woods, and our community who have made it possible to provide support to these gifted artists when they need it the most.   Below is the complete list of the 2023 Nova Scotia Talent Trust scholarship recipients. You can read the Press Release here.     Media Contact:   Andrea Urquhart, Executive Director   Nova Scotia Talent Trust   (902) 492 6801   director@nstalenttrust.ns.ca     nstalenttrust.ca    About the NSTT Since 1944, the NS Talent Trust has provided more than $2.5 million in scholarships and special awards to over 1,000 Nova Scotians pursuing careers in the disciplines of Music, Dance, Film, Theatre, Literary Arts, and Visual Arts.  It is the only organization of its kind in the country.

Nova Scotia Talent Trust Scholarship Recipients 2023 Dance CN Community Fund Scholarship Joel Lawrence Maitland NS ● Contemporary NS Arts Endowment Fund Scholarship Sahara Nyathi Halifax NS ● Ballet, Contemporary Isabella Brennan Halifax NS ● Ballet Minuet Charron Halifax NS ● Contemporary, Choreography Lara Frame Prospect NS ● Ballet Rebecca Swift Mineville NS ● Contemporary, Ballet Stan Tonin Windsor Junction NS ● Contemporary, Ballet Aidan Vaudreuil-Wakeham Lower Sackville NS ● Ballet Film  NS Arts Endowment Fund Scholarship Devon Pennick-Reilly Halifax NS ● Narrative Screenwriting Calcifer Harris East Chezzetcook NS ● Film, Video Caroline MacKeen Guysborough NS ● Filmmaking Literary Arts NS Arts Endowment Fund Scholarship Michelle Hebert Halifax NS ● Creative Non-Fiction Rae Steeves Halifax NS ● Creative Non-Fiction Music Jenny Chen Halifax NS ● Piano Sherry Chen Hammonds Plains NS ● Piano Makye Clayton Halifax NS ● Hip Hop, Music Production  Kate Dietz Hacketts Cove NS ● Classical Voice Kailan Fournier-Poteet Halifax NS ● Clarinet Lucas Goudie Halifax NS ● Drum Kit Devin Huang Bedford NS ● Piano Jacob MacDonald Upper Kennetcook NS ● Cello Sophia Maskine Halifax NS ● Classical Voice Shaw Nicholson Halifax NS ● Trumpet Ameilia Parks Halifax NS ● Horn Mackenzie Sechi Northside East Bay NS ● Opera Abigail Sinclair Halifax NS ● Classical Voice Patrick (Hsiu-Ping) Wu Halifax NS ● Composition Alex Yang Bedford NS ● Piano Luyan (Lucy) Zhang Bedford NS ● Piano Theatre NS Arts Endowment Fund Scholarship Anisa Sobhani Dartmouth NS ● Musical Theatre Olivia Martin East Chezzetcook NS ● Film & TV Acting Annika Murray Greenhill NS ● Musical Theatre Jilian Peters Dartmouth NS ● Musical Theatre Visual Arts    NS Arts Endowment Scholarship Lucas Arab Halifax NS ● Scenic & Projection Design Alexis Cluney Hammonds Plains NS ● Interdisciplinary Design Emily Flinn Halifax NS ● Painting & Printmaking Oscar Jarsky Dartmouth NS ● Printmaking & Drawing Maya Keleris Halifax NS ● Painting & Printmaking Kaya Panthier Halifax NS ● Painting & Printmaking Anna Syme Hantsport NS ● Drawing & Painting Naomi Zamir Brookside NS ● Metalsmithing & Jewelry Making