Reeny Smith presents Reeny’s Family Christmas - December 16 at the Carleton

Reeny Smith presents Reeny's Family Christmas
December 16 at the Carleton.

Reeny Smith presents Reeny’s Family Christmas on December 16 at The Carleton in Halifax.

The 2:00 p.m. matinee is sold out. At the time of this writing there are still tickets available for the evening show at 7:00 p.m.

The family-friendly show features Reeny’s musical traditions inspired by her talented family and friends growing up in North Preston. 

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.

Reeny Smith. A still from our 75th anniversary video.

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. She recently won Music Nova Scotia’s African Nova Scotian Artist of the Year.

We’re grateful she was able to take time from her busy schedule to appear in our 75th anniversary video.

Reeny’s Family Christmas 
The Carleton
1685 Argyle Street
Halifax, Nova Scotia

Sunday, December 16, 2018

Matinée - 2:00 p.m. - sold out
Evening - 7:00 p.m.

Tickets: thecarleton.ca 

Visit Reeny’s Family Christmas Facebook event page for more information. If you can't catch the show, here's Reeny in performance at CBC Halifax's Studio 60.

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.

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.

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.

Soprano Allison Angelo performs in 'The Bells of Baddeck' till August 2, 2016

Allison Angelo

Nova Scotia soprano Allison Angelo was thrilled to return to beautiful Baddeck to reprise her role of Mabel in The Bells of Baddeck. 

You have two more chances to enjoy her performance as Mabel Hubbart Bell. 

Monday, August 1 
at 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, August 2
at 7:30 p.m. 


at the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site, Baddeck, NS

For ticket information please follow this link: http://www.bellsofbaddeck.com/tickets/

Allison Angelo won the NSTT Portia White Award in 2000. 

A passionate proponent of Art Song, Allison Angelo is often heard in recital with the Mountain View Series (Calgary), St. Cecilia Series (Halifax), Off-Centre Music Salon (Toronto), and Mooredale Concert Series (Toronto) and has recently recorded her first solo album, titled “Moon loves its light”. Please visit www.allisonangelo.ca

Portia White Gala Concert with Erin Sparks on November 27 in Halifax

We hope you join us for the 

Portia White Gala Concert

with Special Guest performance by Erin Sparks, mezzo-soprano and three time NSTT Portia White Award winner

Friday, November 27, 2015

7: 30 p.m. at Faith Tabernacle

6225 Summit Street, Halifax

Tickets are $15 for all.
Use our Eventbrite online ticketing service: http://tiny.cc/Portia2015 
 or printed tickets can be obtained from chorale and band members, or reserved
through the Medical Humanities office at (902) 494-1533 or at medhuman(at)dal.ca.

 

The Portia White Gala concert will feature the Dalhousie Health Professions Choral and Ensembles and the Sackville Concert Band. The evening’s entertainment promises a wide variety of repertoire including some seasonal favorites.

Proceeds of this concert go to support a young Nova Scotian musician through the Nova Scotia Talent Trust. The NSTT was started in 1944 to assist the career of Portia White and has continued in its support of talented Nova Scotian artists 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, David Elliott, Bryan Crocker, Jim Forde, and Erin Sparks, the choir members, and the many volunteers that will make the concert yet another memorable event.

During the intermission you will be able to treat yourself again to Bill Chaddock's fine fudge in support of the NSTT's Programs. Portia White's family has donated 100 CDs of 'Portia White - First You Dream' to the NSTT. The CD is a compilation of three concerts featuring contralto Portia White. They can be purchased for $20 with all proceeds going towards the Portia White Award. Thank you Bill Chaddock, Chris White and the whole White family for your generous support.

 

Erin Sparks to perform at the Portia White Gala Concert on November 27 in Halifax

We hope you join us for the 

Portia White Gala Concert

with Special Guest performance by Erin Sparks, mezzo-soprano

Friday, November 27, 2015

7: 30 p.m. at Faith Tabernacle 

6225 Summit Street, Halifax

Tickets are $15 for all.
Use our Eventbrite online ticketing service: http://tiny.cc/Portia2015 
 or printed tickets can be obtained from chorale and band members, or reserved
through the Medical Humanities office at (902) 494-1533 or at medhuman(at)dal.ca.

Nova Scotian mezzo-soprano Erin Sparks received her Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Toronto where she studied under the tutelage of Dr. Darryl Edwards. 

Prior to her masters, Erin completed an Artist Diploma at the University of Toronto and received a Bachelor of Music from Dalhousie University. Erin has been the recipient of various awards such as the Portia White Award in 2003, 2004 and 2005 from the Nova Scotia Talent Trust as well as many other scholarships from both Dalhousie University and the University of Toronto. 

Enjoying a varied career of recitals, oratorio and opera, a recent highlight includes performing the role of Idamante in Mozart’s Idomeneo with Opera Nova Scotia. 
Also an established arts administrator, Erin has worked for numerous arts organizations in Canada. In 2008 she was hired as an Artist Representative with Andew Kwan Artists Management Inc. In Toronto, ON and in 2011, received the award of Emerging Agent of the Year from the Ontario Contact organization. 

Having returned to Nova Scotia, Erin was delighted to join Debut Atlantic as their Program Officer and continue her work in the field of classical music.

The Portia White Gala concert will feature the Dalhousie Health Professions Choral and Ensembles and the Sackville Concert Band. The evening’s entertainment promises a wide variety of repertoire including some seasonal favorites.

Proceeds of this concert go to support a young Nova Scotian musician through the Nova Scotia Talent Trust. The NSTT was started in 1944 to assist the career of Portia White and has continued in its support of talented Nova Scotian artists 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, David Elliott, Bryan Crocker, Jim Forde, and Erin Sparks, the choir members, and the many volunteers that will make the concert yet another memorable event.

During the intermission you will be able to treat yourself again to Bill Chaddock's fine fudge in support of the NSTT's Programs. Portia White's family has donated 100 CDs of 'Portia White - First You Dream' to the NSTT. The CD is a compilation of three concerts featuring contralto Portia White. They can be purchased for $20 with all proceeds going towards the Portia White Award. Thank you Bill Chaddock, Chris White and the whole White family for your generous support.

Janice Jackson performs at Open Waters Festival Jan 13, 2015

Upstream Music Association

Presents

Open Waters Festival of New and Experimental Music

2 Music Filled Nights – 2 Central Locations – 11 Brilliant Performances

www.upstreammusic.org
The Sir James Dunn Theatre, Dalhousie Arts Centre, 6101 University Ave, Halifax
The Atlantica Hotel, Commons Room,  1980 Robie Street, Halifax

Tuesday, January 13, 2015, 7:30 pm
The Sir James Dunn Theatre, Halifax
 
Featuring: Bernhard Gueller, conductor, Janice Jackson soprano, (NSTT 1987 Portia White Award) Simon Docking, piano

Symphony Nova Scotia explores emerging, unconventional, and cutting-edge symphonic music as part of the 2015 Open Waters New Music Festival. Hear our premiere performances of four compelling new works: Canadian composer Jeffrey Ryan's Juno-nominated Pangaea, Russian composer Sofia Gubaidulina's mystical Piano Concerto, Anton Webern's meditative Symphony, Op. 21, and the world premiere of a brand-new composition from Halifax's own Jerome Blais, written especially for our orchestra.

Tickets:

Festival Pass:  $40 / $35 (students / seniors) – to buy go to www.upstreammusic.org

Available at the Dalhousie Arts Centre Box Office: www.artscentre.dal.ca

For information please call: 902-494-3820

Festival Pass:$40.00 Seniors and Students $35. Purchase through PayPal possible.

$20 Single entrance to either night and Saturday afternoon

www.upstreammusic.org

Jana Miller, soprano debuts with Symphony Nova Scotia

Jana Miller, 2009/2011 NSTT Portia White Award

Congratulations to Jana Miller for her debut with Symphony Nova Scotia and Vivien Shotwell, former NSTT scholarship recipient.

Händel's Messhia

Friday, December 19, 7:30 pm

Saturday, December 20, 7:30 pm

Rebecca Cohn Auditorium, Halifax

Featuring: 
Jordan de Souza, conductor
Jana Miller, soprano 
Vivien Shotwell, alto
Colin Ainsworth, tenor

Jon-Paul Décosse, bass

The Symphony Nova Scotia Chorus
with core choir the Halifax Camerata Singers

For more information please go to www.symphonynovascotia.ca

Janice Jackson in Miss Fortune's Portmanteau

Victorian Halifax – Reimaged, Reawakened, Refashioned

Tickets are going fast, reserve yours today!  

View Promo Video HERE

Women's Council House

989 Young Ave, Halifax, Nova Scotia

Wednesday, November 19th through 

Sunday November 23^rd at 8PM

Wednesday, November 26th through 

Sunday November 30^th at 8PM

The Players

Miss Fortune by RAYNA SMITH-CAMP + Mary Howard / Broken Body by JANICE JACKSON (1986 NSTT Portia White Award)

Sarah Clinch and Fish Monger by SARAH ALBU + Halifax Woman and Cook by EMMA LEIGH RIVERA

Tickets $20 / $15  Seating is Limited (25 people per evening)

For Reservations call 902 429 1797

To purchase tickets go to:  www.vocalypse.ca

Jana Miller, soprano at Église Saint-Pierre-Apôtre, Montreal

November 15 & 16, 7:30pm

Jana Miller, soprano (2009/2011 NSTT Portia White Award)

Soprano soloist in Monteverdi Vespers

Ensemble Orbium with Ensemble Caprice

Église Saint-Pierre-Apôtre, 2101 rue de la Visitation, Montreal, QC

In December, Jana will come home to Nova Scotia. Watch out for her debut with Symphonie Nova Scotia. 

For more information please visit Jana's website at http://www.janamillersoprano.com/schedule.html

Jana Miller, soprano at Salle Bourgie, Montreal

Sunday, October 26 • 2 p.m.

Jana Miller, soprano (2009/2011 NSTT Portia White Award)

Choir and Instrumental Ensemble of the CIOC

Jordan de Souza, conductor

Jonathan Oldengarm, organ 

Jana Miller, soprano soloist

Maude Brunet, mezzo-soprano 

Jacques-Olivier Chartier, tenor 

Nathaniel Watson, baritone 

Cantatas with organ obbligato

A production of the Canadian International Organ Competition 

(CIOC), in collaboration with the Arte Musica Foundation

Soprano soloist in Bach Cantatas BWV 48, 49, 188

Salle Bourgie, Montreal, QC

For more information please visit Jana's website at http://www.janamillersoprano.com/schedule.html