Talent Trust grants $48,500 in Awards at 2021 Special Awards Ceremony

 

Today, we recognized our 2021 scholarship and Special Award recipients at 2 p.m. on Sunday, December 12, 2021, virtually in a ceremony which included greetings by His Honour The Honourable Arthur J. LeBlanc, ONS, QC, Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia. Portia White's legacy represents the catalyst for the Talent Trust and its 77-year commitment to aspiring artists across the province. The Talent Trust supports talented Nova Scotian artists as they pursue their studies toward establishing professional careers in the arts.

Halifax dancer Minuet Charron received the $1,500 Talent Trust Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Artistic Achievement, the NSTT’s highest honour for a student in any discipline. Minuet studies Jazz dance at Decidedly Jazz Danceworks in Calgary, Alberta.

Presented for the first time in 2013, the two 2011 Canada Games Young Artist of Excellence Awards, valued at $10,000 each, will be awarded to any recipient, regardless of age, from any artistic discipline, who best exemplifies the qualities embraced by the Nova Scotia Talent Trust, that of the utmost commitment, promise, exceptional technique, talent and the highest achievement of excellence, someone who demonstrates the passion and drive to become a professional Nova Scotia artist in their field of discipline. These two awards will be granted every December until 2022 and are the legacy of the 2011 Canada Games Young Artists of Excellence Program. In 2021, the two $10,000 awards were received by Halifax visual artist Ada Denil and musical theatre performer Emily O'Leary from Glace Bay.

Ada Denil (Halifax), 2021 recipient of a 2011 Canada Games Young Artist of Excellence Award, is currently studying visual arts at NSCAD University (Halifax).

Emily O'Leary (Glace Bay), 2021 recipient of a 2011 Canada Games Young Artist of Excellence Award, is studying musical theatre at New York University - Steinhardt (New York City).

Today, the Talent Trust had the pleasure to present a new award. The Nova Scotia Talent Trust and RBC Foundation are collaborating to launch the RBC Emerging BIPOC Artist Award. This new $2,500 Special Award will be presented annually to a Black, Indigenous, or Person of Color who shows exceptional commitment and professional potential as an artist. Preference will be given to emerging artists in the areas of film, visual arts and music.

Visual artist Excel Garay (Halifax) is the recipient of the $2,500 RBC Emerging BIPOC Artist Award. Excel studies expanded visual arts at NSCAD University (Halifax). The award is supported by RBC Emerging Artists Program through RBC Foundation.

Actor Kevin Munroe (Sydney) is the recipient of the $2,500 RBC Emerging Artist Award. Kevin studies acting at the National Theatre School (Montreal, Quebec). The Award is supported by RBC Emerging Artists Program through RBC Foundation.

There are thirteen more Special Award recipients, each of whom demonstrates the exceptional potential to become a professional artist. We're pleased to introduce them here.

Opera singer Abigail Sinclair (Halifax) is the recipient of the $2,000 Sheila K. Piercey Legacy Award in voice studies. Abigail studied privately with Joan Patenaude-Yarnell (Opera). The Sheila K. Piercey Award is supported through a generous Bequest by the late Sheila Piercey.

Ryan MacDougall (Dartmouth) is the recipient of the $500 Theatre Nova Scotia Award for theatre. Ryan is studying musical theatre at Sheridan College (Oakville, Ontario). The Award is supported by Theatre Nova Scotia.

Visual artist Kaya Panthier (Halifax) receives the $1,500 The Susan Wood Award in visual arts. Kaya is currently studying visual arts at Mount Allison University (Sackville, New Brunswick). The Award was made possible through generous donations by family and friends of Susan Wood and Visual Arts Nova Scotia.

Pianist Gabriel O'Brien (Halifax) is the recipient of the $8,000 Dr. James Burchill Award for an organist, choral or instrumental conductor or a student of another musical instrument or voice. Gabriel is studying music at Dalhousie University. The award is supported by former Talent Trust scholarship recipient and organist Dr. James Burchill through a $220,000 Bank Bond donation to the NSTT Foundation.

Pianist Lala Lee (Halifax) is the recipient of the $1,000 Peggy Corkum/Musique Royale Legacy Award. Lala studies piano performance at the Glenn Gould School (Toronto, Ontario). The Award is supported by Barbara Butler, Musique Royale, and friends of Peggy Corkum.

Ballet dancer Gabrielle Trudel (Timberlea) is the recipient of the $2,000 Robert George Jackson Award for dance. Gabrielle is attending Ryerson University (Toronto, Ontario). The Award supported by Daphne Cruikshanks in memory of her late husband Robert Jackson.

Visual artist Charles Bourne (Halifax) is the recipient of the $1,000 Charlotte Wilson-Hammond/Visual Arts Nova Scotia Award. Charles currently studies architecture at Dalhousie University (Halifax). The Award is supported by Charlotte Wilson-Hammond and Visual Arts Nova Scotia.

Cellist Jacob MacDonald (Upper Kennetcook) is the recipient of the $1,000 Raymond Simpson Award for music. Jacob studies at the University of Ottawa (Ottawa, Ontario). The Award is supported by the Simpson family.

Piano player Chantal Peng (Halifax) is the recipient of the $1,000 Yue Lih and Marion Kuo Award for exceptional commitment and potential in music as an instrumentalist. Chantal is currently studying at the American University College of Arts and Sciences (Washington, D.C.). The Award is supported by Marion Kuo and Earl Wadden.

Ballet dancer Aidan Vaudreuil (Lower Sackville) is the recipient of the $1,000 Janice Merritt Flemming Award and is currently studying at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School (Winnipeg, Manitoba). The Award is supported by the Flemming family.

Opera singer Natalie Mitchell (Pictou County) is the recipient of the $1,000 Talent Trust's Portia White Award for voice. Natalie studies privately with Suzanne Mentzer (San Francisco, California). The Award is supported by the Music-in-Medicine and Humanities-HEALS Program, Dalhousie University.

Film director, writer and producer Spencer MacKay (Windsor Junction) is the recipient of the $1,000 Shelagh Mackenzie Award for film. Spencer spent the summer studying privately with mentor Ian MacLeod. The Award is supported by Shelagh Mackenzie's friends.

Euphonium player Ross Macintosh (Truro) is the recipient of the $1,000 Kenneth Elloway Award for composition and instrumental performance. Ross spent the summer 2021 attending the Lunenburg Academy of Music Performance LAMP (Lunenburg). The Award is supported by the Elloway family.

In addition to the Special Awards announced today, the Nova Scotia Talent Trust gave out scholarships to 55 recipients earlier this year. You can find a list of the 2021 Nova Scotia Talent Trust scholarship recipients below. The NSTT’s scholarship application deadline date for Spring/Summer study is March 1, 2022. The deadline for Fall/Winter study is May 1, 2022. The NSTT is supported by individual donors like Margaret and David Fountain and the 2011 Canada Games Legacy Fund, RBC Foundation, The Craig Foundation,, Musique Royale, Visual Arts Nova Scotia, Theatre Nova Scotia, Debut Atlantic, immediaC, the Creative Nova Scotia Leadership Council, NSTT Foundation, Dalhousie Music in Medicine HEALS Program, Halifax Central Library, Cecilia Concerts, Craft Nova Scotia, Black Cultural Centre for NS, CIOE 97.5 Community Radio, and Arts Nova Scotia. NSTT is pleased to work in partnership with the province to develop and promote our cultural resources for all Nova Scotians.

Congratulations to the Talent Trust, Nova Scotia Arts Endowment Fund, and CN Halifax Community Board Scholarship Recipients CIRCUS ARTS RECIPIENT Juggling  Luca Haase, Conquerall Mills DANCE RECIPIENTS Ballet Sahara Nyathi, Halifax Maggie Oates-Johnson, Dartmouth Katrina Ouellette, Middle Sackville, NS Arts Endowment Fund Scholarship Emma Purdy, Debert Aidan Vaudreuil-Wakeham, Lower Sackville Ballet/Contemporary Julia Barkhouse, Dartmouth Sienna Nyathi, Halifax Bharathanatyam Priyadarshini Satheesh, Halifax Contemporary Minuet Charron, Halifax Stan Tonin, Windsor Junction Gabrielle Trudel, Timberlea FILM Film Production Reva Bhardwaj, Dartmouth, CN Halifax Community Board Scholarship Producing, Writing, Directing Spencer MacKay, Windsor Junction, NS Arts Endowment Fund Scholarship LITERARY ARTS RECIPIENTS Creative Essay  K.R. Byggdin, Halifax Creative Nonfiction Peggy Walt, Halifax Short Fiction/Poetry Sidney Robichaud, Halifax, MUSIC RECIPIENTS Brass – Euphonium  Ross Macintosh, Truro Brass – Trumpet  Shaw Nicholson, Halifax Composition Kayleigh James, Halifax Jessica MacIsaac, Halifax Gaelic Culture/Fiddle Abby Hanson, Montague Gold Mines Ella Hanson, Montague Gold Mines Keyboard – Organ Gabriel O'Brien, Halifax Keyboard – Piano Sherry Chen, Hammonds Plains Natalia Comeau, Hammonds Plains Devin Huang, Bedford Lala Lee, Halifax Carmen Peng, Wolfville Chantal Peng, Wolfville Alex Yang, Bedford Percussion/Drum Kit Lucas Goudie, Halifax Strings – Cello Jacob MacDonald, Upper Kennetcook, NS Arts Endowment Fund Scholarship Strings – Violin Kelvin Mansaray, Halifax Voice - Opera Rhian Merritt, Upper Tantallon Natalie Mitchell, Halifax Nicole Ross, New Glasgow Abigail Sinclair, Halifax Shanice Skinner, New Glasgow Connie Young, Halifax THEATRE RECIPIENTS Acting Kevin Munroe, Sydney Musical Theatre Ryan MacDougall, Hammonds Plains Deanna Mann, New Glasgow Emily O’Leary, Glace Bay, NS Arts Endowment Fund Scholarship Jillian Peters, Dartmouth VISUAL/FINE ARTS RECIPIENTS Architecture Charles Bourne, Halifax Digital Media, Digital Illustration   Leena Elkhateeb, Bedford Drawing, Textiles Madeleine West, Halifax Expanded Painting, Art History Excel Garay, Halifax Fine Arts Olivia Haill, Halifax Interdisciplinary/Computation Arts Jonah McKay, Canning Jewellery, Hollowware  Hannah Craig, Halifax, NS Arts Endowment Fund Scholarship Painting Anna Syme, Hantsport Portraiture  Kaya Panthier, Halifax Sculpture/Illustration Ada Denil, Halifax Want to hear more? Please sign up for our newsletter Want to support the next generation of Nova Scotia artists? Donate today!

Support our Blue Nose Marathon TALENT TRUST TEAM

Our Talent Trust Team is in the final stages of preparing for their Blue Nose Marathon runs on November 6 and 7, 2021. 

Would you please support their efforts by sponsoring their runs? 

Our Team members include former Talent Trust scholarship recipients Breagh Isabel MacKinnon, Carolle Fernando, Erin Sparks, Andrew Son, and Edward Enman. Edward will run the full marathon on Sunday! WOW!!!

We thank our Talent Trust friends Jon Hines, Jeff Janes, Kelly Wadden, NSTT Vice-Chair Victoria Hines, NSTT Treasurer Natalie Wells, and our Executive Director Jacqueline Steudler for running as well. 

Okay,complete transparency here. Jacqueline will walk the 5 km. 😍

You can find the entire team at the following link or individual links further down on this page. Just scroll down to see all of our runners -> click on their image and support their efforts today. 

https://raceroster.com/events/2021/47356/scotiabank-blue-nose-marathon/pledge/team/316112

100% of your support will go towards the Talent Trust's scholarship fund. You will receive a donation receipt starting at $5. 

Please feel free to share this information with your friends. 🥰

Direct Links to Talent Trust Team Member’s Fundraising pages

Natalie Wells, NSTT Treasurer

https://raceroster.com/events/2021/47356/scotiabank-blue-nose-marathon/pledge/participant/12203665

Breagh MacKinnon, former Talent Trust scholarship recipient and NSTT Secretary

https://raceroster.com/events/2021/47356/scotiabank-blue-nose-marathon/pledge/participant/12562498

Carolle Fernando, former Talent Trust scholarship recipient

https://raceroster.com/events/2021/47356/scotiabank-blue-nose-marathon/pledge/participant/12674231

Victoria Hines, NSTT Vice Chair

https://raceroster.com/events/2021/47356/scotiabank-blue-nose-marathon/pledge/participant/12650184

Erin Sparks, former Talent Trust scholarship recipient and former NSTT Board Chair

https://raceroster.com/events/2021/47356/scotiabank-blue-nose-marathon/pledge/participant/12625030

Andrew Son, former Talent Trust scholarship recipient

https://raceroster.com/events/2021/47356/scotiabank-blue-nose-marathon/pledge/participant/12171585

Edward Enman, former Talent Trust scholarship recipient

https://raceroster.com/events/2021/47356/scotiabank-blue-nose-marathon/pledge/participant/11921807

Kelly Wadden

https://raceroster.com/events/2021/47356/scotiabank-blue-nose-marathon/pledge/participant/11887439

Jeff Janes
https://raceroster.com/events/2021/47356/scotiabank-blue-nose-marathon/pledge/participant/12905286

Jon Hines

https://raceroster.com/events/2021/47356/scotiabank-blue-nose-marathon/pledge/participant/12961176

Jacqueline Steudler, Talent Trust Executive Director

https://raceroster.com/events/2021/47356/scotiabank-blue-nose-marathon/pledge/participant/11906662

PS: Want to hear more about the Talent Trust? Please sign up for our newsletter.

Talent Trust Artist Spotlight Radio with Guests Marc Djokic and Gharret Paon July 4, 2019.

Tune in for the 3rd edition of the Talent Trust Artist Spotlight.

Every first Thursday of the month with your host, past scholarship recipient and current board member Breagh MacKinnon.

July 4, 1 p.m. 

97.5 CIOE Community Radio

Hear from TT alumni; the virtuosic internationally renowned violinist Marc Djokic, winner of the 2017-2018 Prix Goyer as well as actor/producer, Gharret Paon, recently accepted into both the National Screen Institute and Telefilm programs.

Previous Episodes:

2: Charley Young, and Shandi Mitchell (recording coming soon)

1: Jane Archibald and Charlotte Wilson-Hammond

Want to hear more? Please sign up for our newsletter.

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

Mary Fay Coady and Jim Fowler join Two Planks and a Passion Theatre’s Summer Cast.

Talent Trust Alumni Mary Fay Coady and Jim Fowler share their theatrical flare in three site-specific productions for Two Planks and a Passion's 2019 summer season. Playing several shows per week from July to mid-September, you can enjoy, In This Light, Frankenstein By Fire and The Ruins. Details below. 

Mary Fay Coady is an actor and Alexander Technique teacher. She has performed with World Tour/ 2b Theatre, Zuppa Theatre, Eastern Front, Chester Playhouse, and Misery, to name a few.

Mary Fay has been nominated for three Robert Merritt Awards, and won in 2018 for Outstanding Performance by a Female Lead. She was awarded Best Theatre Actress in The Coast’s Best of Halifax poll and recently received a Toronto Theatre Critic Award for Best Featured Performance in a Musical. Mary Fay would like to thank her brilliant mother.

Jim Fowler is a graduate of the Dalhousie Acting Program and has worked as an actor in Halifax for the past 25 years. He has taken part in productions with Neptune Theatre, Shakespeare By The Sea, Two Planks And A Passion, Opera Nova Scotia, and Irondale Ensemble Project to name a few. In his work with Irondale, Jim has collaborated with community organizations, educators, and students of all ages across the province, using theatre to delve into difficult social issues and to inspire positive change. He has also been an instructor for Neptune Theatre School, Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia High School Drama Festival, and Atlantic Film Festival. 

About the Plays:

In This Light by Catherine Banks

Adapted from Enemy of the People by Ibsen
Dr. Thomasina Burke is a well-respected medical doctor in a rural village in the Annapolis Valley in 1931. Just as her home is poised to reap the benefits of an important new business- a health spa that will bring people from far and wide- Dr. Burke makes a discovery that will challenge her whole community to choose sides in a battle over the very nature of truth, and the power of one person to be heard.

Frankenstein by Fire

Adapted from the novel by Mary Shelley
Haunted by his own loss, Victor Frankenstein becomes obsessed with harnessing the power to give life. Once he discovers how to create a being, he unleashes an unimaginable power he can no longer control as a creator - a Creature who, although not human, desires to be loved. Torn between protecting his family and unable to shake the responsibility for what he has discovered, Victor’s destiny is intertwined with one of the most compelling characters in all literature- a monster who truly appreciates what it is to be human.

The Ruins- By Gillian Clark

Adapted from the Trojan Women by Euripides.
It’s the night of the annual Spring Fire Hall Dance in New Troy Nova Scotia. The parents are dancing in the hall, and the kids are playing in the field, just like every other year. But this year, something is different. Cassandra has seen the future of her little town, and no one will believe her. 

By Fire you ask? Check out this video to find out.

 
Want to hear more? Please sign up for our newsletter.


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