The World of Yousuf Karsh: A Private Essence

Portia White's connection to the Talent Trust runs deep. In 1944, members of the Halifax Ladies Club, along with voice teacher Dr. Ernesto Vinci, successfully advocated the city of Halifax and the province of Nova Scotia for unparalleled financial support towards her studies in New York. Portia White ascended to become one of the best singers of the 20th century. The Talent Trust, with the help of the Dalhousie Music in Medicine HEALS Program, supports her legacy through the Portia White Award for a Nova Scotia voice student. You can lean more about the Portia White/Talent Trust connection here.

Running March 12 - October 16, 2022 the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 is hosting a special exhibition featuring the work of famed photographer Yousuf Karsh, the photographer of the iconic Portia White image many recognize today.

You can learn more about The World of Yousuf Karsh: A Private Essence exhibit here.

 

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Celebrate with us Portia White's 110th Birthday!

Let's celebrate Portia White's 110th birthday and remember a fantastic Nova Scotia talent.

Internationally recognized in her day and now revered as part of Canadian heritage, Portia White’s legacy is infused with many meanings. For the Nova Scotia Talent Trust, which celebrated 77 years of supporting aspiring artists of all disciplines on May 2, 2021, Portia White represents its catalyst. 

In 1944, members of the Halifax Ladies Club, along with voice teacher Dr. Ernesto Vinci, successfully advocated the city of Halifax and the province of Nova Scotia for unparalleled financial support towards her studies in New York. Portia White ascended to become one of the best singers of the 20th century. The Talent Trust, with the help of the Dalhousie Music in Medicine HEALS Program, supports her legacy through the Portia White Award for a Nova Scotia voice student.

The province recognized the difference their support made in Portia White’s career and founded the Nova Scotia Talent Trust in 1944, to help other deserving and talented Nova Scotians succeed. 

More about Portia White:

On March 13, 1944, Portia White delivered her breakthrough concert that changed her own life and many more. Portia White became the first Canadian ever to perform at the New York Town Hall. 

The concert initiated her ascent to become one of the best singers of the 20th century, a particularly incredible triumph considering the systemic racism of segregation. 

Internationally recognized in her day, Portia White is now revered as part of Canadian heritage. Her legacy represents the catalyst for the Talent Trust and its 77-year commitment to aspiring artists across the province. Since 1985, many deserving vocalists have been awarded the Talent Trust’s Portia White Award, including Shanice Skinner and Reeny Smith.

Read the Talent Trust editorial “Celebrate Portia White’s Legacy,” published in The Coast in 2019.

You can also here Portia White speaking about life in Toronto in 1958 here. And listen to her here: https://youtu.be/Ibk3DZF-CtY

In 2011, Reeny Smith helped us celebrate Portia's 100th Birthday by singing "Think on Me" at the annual Portia White Award Concert in front of the Honorable Myann E. Francis Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, Portia's  family members and a packed church. A special moment! Reeny's rendition can be found here: 
https://youtu.be/Kl49LMLvM8o

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Want to support the next generation of Nova Scotian artists? Donate today! (smile)

Genius Child: Celebrating Portia White with Cecilia Concerts

Cecilia Concerts presents:
Genius Child: Portia White at Town Hall

Saturday, 
November 9
7:30 p.m. 
St. George's Round Church
2222 Brunswick Street in Halifax

In 1944, Truro born contralto Portia White performed her New York City debut at Town Hall, a concert venue with a distinguished history of presenting early twentieth-century African American performers, including soprano Marian Anderson, bass-baritone Paul Robeson, and jazz singer Billie Holiday.

Efforts to support her in this career milestone transformed into the NS Talent Trust in 1944. During the last 75 years we were able to support over 1,000 aspiring Nova Scotian artists to pursue arts training to become professional artists.

This special presentation recreates White's historic NYC concert featuring works by Scarlatti, Schubert, and Brahms as well as spirituals and text by African American poet Langston Hughes. The Grammy Award-winning soprano Harolyn Blackwell is accompanied by prize-winning pianist Daniel Zelibor.

Cecilia Concerts presents this concert in partnership with the Nova Scotia Talent Trust with assistance from the Halifax Ladies' Musical Club and Arts Nova Scotia.

Celebrating Portia White, A Touring Exhibition Reaches Portia’s Birthplace of Truro May 11 – Oct 11, 2019.

On the 75th Anniversary of Portia White’s breakthrough concert at New York Town hall, her niece Sheila White bring her touring exhibition to Portia White’s birthplace.

May 11 - October 11

Opening May 11, 2pm.

Colchester Historeum
29 Young Street, Truro, NS

The Celebrating Portia White exhibition features a collection of photographs and portraits, vintage recordings, and treasured personal items, many which are rare, one of a kind and generously shared by Portia White’s family.

Portia White symbolizes the catalyst for the Talent Trust. In 1944, members of the Halifax Ladies Club, along with voice teacher Ernesto Vinci, successfully advocated to the city of Halifax and the province of Nova Scotia for unprecedented financial support towards White's studies in New York. White ascended to become one of the best singers of the 20th century.

Learn more about the exhibition on CBC  

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/portia-white-exhibit-1.4529401

Sylvia Hamilton Screens Portia White: Think On Me at the Government House on April 23, 2019.

75 years ago, in 1944, Portia White became the first Canadian to debut at New York’s famed Town Hall, and the first Black Canadian concert singer to win international acclaim, widely known as Canada’s Singing Sensation. 

To commemorate, the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, Honourable Arthur J. LeBlanc, ONS, QC will be hosting a public screening of Sylvia D. Hamilton's documentary:

Portia White: Think On Me.

Tuesday, April 23rd, 2019

7:00pm-8:30pm  

Government House, 

1451 Barrington Street, Halifax. 

Free & open to the public.

Call 902-424-7001 

Or register online

The film uncovers the unique life of Portia White who achieved unparalleled international success during the tumultuous 1940's. The documentary uses archival film and TV footage, excerpts from recordings, and interviews with family, pupils and her accompanists to portray a talented and dignified woman.

Born in Truro, Nova Scotia in 1911 and raised in Halifax, Portia White began her singing career at age six at the Cornwallis Street Baptist Church (now the New Horizons Baptist Church) where her father was minister. She attended Dalhousie University in 1929 and in the 1930s she taught in Africville and Lucasville while also taking voice lessons. It was apparent from an early age that she had extraordinary musical talent and in 1939 she won a scholarship to continue her training at the Halifax Conservatory of Music. Portia White made her singing debut at age 30 in Toronto.

The Portia White Trust, which became the Nova Scotia Talent Trust, was established to help foster her career; it was the first of its kind in Canada. A Canadian postage stamp was issued in her honour and she was named “a person of national historic interest” by the Government of Canada.

Sylvia D. Hamilton is a Nova Scotian filmmaker, writer and artist whose work explores the lives and experiences of people of African descent. Her special focus is on African Nova Scotians, and especially women. In particular, her work takes the form of documentary films, writing, public presentations, teaching, mentoring, extensive volunteer work and community involvement. She has uncovered stories of struggles and contributions of African Canadians and introduced them to mainstream audiences.

As seating is limited to 90, people wishing to attend must register by calling 902-424-7001 or by registering online.

Blog content summarized from the official events notice.

Celebrating Portia White as Catalyst on the 75th Anniversary of her Breakthrough Concert.

On March 13, 1944, Portia White delivered her breakthrough concert that changed her own life and many more. 75 years to the day, Portia White became the first Canadian ever to perform at the New York Town Hall. 

Hedley Rainnie’s portrait of White hangs in Government House

The concert initiated her ascent to become one of the best singers of the 20th century, a particularly incredible triumph considering the systemic racism of segregation. 

Internationally recognized in her day, Portia White is now revered as part of Canadian heritage. Her legacy represents the catalyst for the Talent Trust and its 75-year commitment to aspiring artists across the province. Since 1985, many deserving vocalists have been awarded the Talent Trust’s Portia White Award, including the 2016 winner Shanice Skinner, also a female African Nova Scotia operatic singer.

To celebrate the anniversary of this historic achievement Cecilia Concerts will bring Grammy Award-winning, African American Harolyn Blackwell to Halifax to perform in "Genius Child: Portia White at Town Hall" on Nov 9, 2019. 

The concert revisits some of the material Portia White sang in her milestone concert while also showcasing a collection of beautiful songs encompassing poetry by the timeless, and timely, African American writer and social activist Langston Hughes. Blackwell will be accompanied by prize-winning Texan pianist Danny Zelibor.

Read the Talent Trust editorial “Celebrate Portia White’s Legacy,” published in The Coast.