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.

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.

Shanice Skinner Performs in Don Giovanni at the Halifax Summer Opera Festival

Shanice Skinner - photo courtesy of Halifax Summer Opera Festival

Shanice Skinner will perform the role of Zerlina in Mozart’s Don Giovanni at the Sir James Dunn Theatre in Halifax. The opera is presented by the Halifax Summer Opera Festival.

Shanice, a soprano born in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University with an Honours Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance in 2017. 

She was Nova Scotia’s alto selection for the 2014 National Youth Choir, and soprano for the 2016 National Youth Choir tour in Alberta.

Shanice won the Talent Trust Portia White award in 2016.

Here’s the Halifax Opera Festival’s description of Don Giovanni: 

“One of Mozart’s greatest operas, Don Giovanni is the story of the women (and men) damaged by a philandering, roguish womanizer, all set to glorious music. Our #metoo modern-dress production will demonstrate just how relevant this 231 year old opera still is.”

The opera will be performed in Italian, with projected English translation, accompanied by piano.

Performance Dates and Times

Sir James Dunn Theatre, Dalhousie Arts Centre

6101 University Avenue, Halifax

Saturday, August 4, 7:30 pm

Sunday, August 5, 7:30 pm

Thursday, August 9, 7:30 pm

Saturday, August 11, 2:00 pm

(dates and times subject to change)

Tickets

$30 for general admission
$20 for student (aged 13 to university)
$5 for children under 13

Tickets will be available in advance online from TicketHalifax.com, in person at The Coast offices, and by phone with credit card at (902)-422-6278 ex. 50

The Halifax Summer Opera Festival box office opens outside the Sir James Dunn Theatre at the Dal Arts Centre from one hour before show time, and any remaining tickets are available to purchase then. 

Cash, cheques and Visa/MasterCard are accepted at the door. For more details, see their Ticket Information Page.