Reeny Smith in Nova Scotia Talent Trust Scholarship Campaign Video

Reeny Smith took time out of her busy performance schedule to help us with our 75th anniversary scholarship campaign video. 

Filet Production Services, who produced our video, were able to catch Reeny in performance at the 2018 East Coast Music Awards in May, where she was nominated for the for the ECMA Bucky Adams Memorial Award. That footage became part of our video, along with some lovely shots in a more relaxed setting.

A scene from the Talent Trust video. Thanks to Reeny Smith and
family for being part of our scholarship campaign promotion.

Reeny is part of a big, musical family. Her father and grandfather, Wallace Smith Sr. and Wally Smith Jr. are both former members of the iconic Nova Scotia gospel group the Gospel Heirs, and her uncles Carson and Murray Downey are members of the "three-piece blues band, with a hint of funk" Carson Downey Band. 

Reeny began singing and playing piano at the age of five. She received a Talent Trust scholarship to support her studies in voice, and won the Talent Trust Portia White Award in 2010.

She studied piano at the Conservatory Of Music, and worked with Halifax based pianist and teacher Paul Simons before enrolling in the music program at St. Francis Xavier University, where she was a jazz major.

Behind the scenes at the ECMAs. Photo by Filet Production Services.

Since completing her studies, Reeny has worked tirelessly to build her career. 

Her talent and dedication has been recognized along the way, with African Nova Scotia and Music Nova Scotia awards, and a Galaxie Rising Star Award at the Halifax Jazz Festival.

She’s performed at the Halifax Jazz festival, at Nova Scotia’s iconic Stanfest in Canso, and was Casino Nova Scotia’s Artist in Residence in 2015. She appeared with Symphony Nova Scotia in a community concert series in 2017. 

In 2018 Reeny released her first single, Good Girl Swag, and her album W W I I I: Strength Courage Love. 

You can catch Reeny in multiple showcases at this year’s Nova Scotia Music Week in Truro (November 1 - 4), where she’s nominated for four awards.

Update: Congratulations to Reeny on her win of Music Nova Scotia African Nova Scotian Artist of the Year!

Not to be outdone by Reeny’s more official accolades, her fans just voted to give her Gold for Best R&B Artist/Band, and Bronze for Best Solo Artist as part of The Coast magazine’s Best of Halifax Reader’s Choice Awards.

We’d like to thank Reeny and her family for being so generous with their time, and welcoming our crew into their home to help create our scholarship campaign video. 



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

Reeny Smith Nominated for Four Music Nova Scotia Awards

Reeny Smith nominated for four 2018
Music Nova Scotia Awards

Reeny Smith is nominated for an impressive four Music Nova Scotia Awards. 

She’s also on the roster of performers for Nova Scotia Music Week, the annual industry conference which takes place November 1 - 4 in Truro, Nova Scotia.

Her nominations:

• African Nova Scotian Artist of the Year
• Music Video of the Year — Good Girl Swag 
• (Directed by Loggo Lionel)
• SOCAN Songwriter of the Year – Good Girl Swag
• Entertainer of the Year

Reeny received Talent Trust scholarships to support her studies in voice. She won the Portia White Award, which recognizes a Talent Trust scholarship recipient who demonstrates excellence in voice.

Since then she’s received three African Nova Scotia Music Awards for Up and Coming Artist (2011), Rising Star (2012), and Artist of the Year (2015). 

2015 also saw Reeny chosen as Casino Nova Scotia's Artist in Residence, the same year she attended the Gordie Sampson Songcamp.

In 2017 and 2016, she won Music Nova Scotia’s African Canadian Artist of the Year award.

2018 has been another jam-packed year for Reeny. She released her first single, Good Girl Swag and her album W W I I I: Strength Courage Love, and was nominated for the Bucky Adams Memorial East Coast Music Award.

Nova Scotia Music Week is a professional training and networking opportunity with workshops, receptions, over 100 showcases of emerging and established artists. The four-day conference celebrates Nova Scotia artists and industry professionals.

Founded in 1997, Nova Scotia Music Week attracts over 1,100 music industry professionals and 7,000 members of the general public.

The Music Nova Scotia Awards celebration takes place on Sunday, November 4 at the Holiday Inn. The celebration begins at 7:00 p.m.

Reeny Smith Nominated for Bucky Adams Memorial East Coast Music Award

Reeny Smith is an award-winning R&B and soul artist from North Preston, Nova Scotia. She's adding to her accolades with a nomination for the Bucky Adams Memorial Award at the 2018 East Coast Music Awards.

Reeny's family boasts an impressive group of performers. Her father and grandfather (Wallace Smith Sr. and Jr.) are both former members of the iconic gospel group the Gospel Heirs, and her uncles Carson and Murray Downey are members of the Carson Downey Band. Reeny began singing and playing piano at the age of five. 

Showcasing on the Breakout Stage at the ECMA Awards and Conference in 2016, Reeny performed at the awards show in 2017. She released her first single “Good Girl Swag” in February 2018, and her first full-length album is in the works. 

The ECMA festival and conference runs from May 2-6, with the awards show on May 3 at the Scotiabank Centre.

Breagh Mackinnon Nominated for East Coast Music Award

Port Cities: Breagh Mackinnon, Carleton Stone, Dylan Gutho

Lucky ticket holders will see singer-songwriter Breagh Mackinnon perform at the 2018 ECMA Awards Show with her bandmates Carleton Stone and Dylan Guthro, collectively known as Port Cities. 

The Nova Scotia trio is nominated for Pop Recording of the Year, for their self-titled record Port Cities. Breagh was nominated for the ECMA Rising Star award in 2013.

The ECMA Festival and Conference runs from May 2-6, with the awards show on May 3 at the Scotiabank Centre.