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!

Gharrett Paon film to be screened at Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival

Actor, producer filmmaker Gharrett Paon.

Gharrett Paon (with Bretten Hannam) will have his short film WILDFIRE screened at the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival in France as part of Telefilm Canada's "Not Short On Talent" showcase.

The screening takes place on February 6, 2019.

Gharrett is a Métis (Mi’kmaq/Acadian) actor, producer, and co-founder of Rebel Road Films. 

He received a Talent Trust film scholarship as well as the Shelagh Mackenzie Award and the 2011 Canada Games Young Artists of Excellence in 2017, the same year he graduated from Dalhousie University and completed a residency in the Canadian Film Centre’s Cineplex Entertainment Film Program.

The Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival is the world's largest film festival dedicated to short films, the second largest film festival in France after Cannes.

Founded in 1981, the first International Festival was presented in 1988. The 2017 Festival saw more than 160,000 entries and welcomed more than 3,500 professionals.

Announcing the Nova Scotia Talent Trust 2019 Scholarship Application Deadlines

We’re pleased to announce that we are ready to receive new scholarship applications for 2019.  

The deadlines are fast approaching!

The scholarship application process will again happen online, thanks to the generous support by Code & Mortar, a Halifax-based web design and development firm, and the Support4Culture program.

We advise applicants to read the submission guidelines carefully and to submit their applications early since there are a number of changes to the submission procedures this year.

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION DEADLINES

Spring/Summer study: 
5:00 p.m. Atlantic Standard Time (AST)
March 1, 2019

Fall/Winter study: 
5:00 p.m. Atlantic Daylight Saving Time (ADT)
May 1, 2019

For more information, go to nstalenttrust.ca or call the Talent Trust at (902) 492-6801.

Please help us spread the word: If you know a Nova Scotian student that is studying in the arts, let them know about this opportunity and our March 1 and May 1 deadlines.

Talent Trust Launches Campaign to Double Scholarship Funding

We're marking our 75th anniversary in 2019 with an ambitious project: we've launched a campaign to double the funding for scholarships awarded to Nova Scotians studying in the arts.

 

Our campaign launches today with a video featuring seven Talent Trust scholarship recipients: Maggie Oates-Johnson (ballet), Devin Huang (piano), Reeny Smith (voice), Michael Hirschbach (circus arts), Veronique MacKenzie (dance), Sandra Brownlee (fibre arts), and Isaac Fresia (architecture).

CLICK HERE TO DONATE

Fibre artist and Talent Trust scholarship
recipient Sandra Brownlee

“The scholarship was a huge boost for me, not just financially, but in terms of the morale boost as well. It came just when I needed it the most. It was thrilling, and it made what I was doing seem more real, and viable. It put me on a really good path,” says Sandra Brownlee, who received her Talent Trust scholarship in 1980.

Sandra has built a career as a practicing artist who exhibits her work internationally, and is a Governor General's Award winner. She gives back to the community by sharing her skills and experience through teaching. Sandra lives and works in Halifax.

Pianist and Talent Trust scholarship recipient Devin Huang

At the other end of the spectrum, Devin Huang received his first Talent Trust scholarship in 2016 at the age of 10. He’s already won Kiwanis Festival and Chebucto Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition awards, and is a committed piano student.

As you may already know, Talent Trust scholarships are awarded across disciplines: music, voice, dance, theatre, literary arts, circus arts, design, visual arts, film, and new media. Recipients come from every corner of the province, from Sydney to Barrington, and Musquodoboit Harbour to Wolfville.

With assistance from Support4Culture, the scholarship campaign video was produced by Fillet Production Services in Halifax.

“We’re proud and honoured to support the development of more than 1,000 Nova Scotia artists over the past 75 years,” says our Board of Directors Chair Erin Sparks. “There’s extraordinary talent in this province. We know education costs are rising. We want to support our artists more.”

The Talent Trust is pleased to work in partnership with the Province of Nova Scotia, which assists with administrative costs. That funding allows 100% of donations to go directly to scholarships for emerging Nova Scotian artists across disciplines.

Thank you for being part of our community and believing in our artists. And thank you for sharing our news through the links below.

Becka Barker's Animated Short BOUY at the 2018 FIN Atlantic International Film Festival

Becka Barker is one of the filmmakers at the 2018 FIN Atlantic International Film Festival, which runs from September 13 - 20. 

Her “crowd-sourced” hand-drawn animated short Buoy is in the Atlantic Shorts Program 2 lineup that screens September 15 and 17. 

The Atlantic Filmmakers Cooperative commissioned Becka to make a short animated film about the Halifax explosion to mark the 100th anniversary in 2017. 

As she dug into her research, she found footage posted online by the Nova Scotia Archives that was shot just two days after the disaster. She was astounded to see so many ordinary Haligonians assisting in rescue efforts and helping where they could.

From Becka: “This is what hit me hardest. Not just because of their grit in the face of such devastation, but because this felt like the Halifax I know. We rely on each other so much to get things done around here. Often, it feels to me like that's the only way. After all, when you live in a depressed economy on the edge of a continent, you simply can't go it alone. This footage and this thought gave me a spark for my project.”

Becka Barker. Photo: CFAT

Becka is known for her use of hand-crafted processes in her film and video work, and Buoy is no exception. She invited members of the public to trace frames she printed from the film footage, and used those to illustrate the tactile way people interacted with the explosion and the century-old images of the aftermath. Buoy is the result of that exploration.

In addition to her Talent Trust scholarships for film studies, Becka's work has been supported by the National Film Board of Canada, Canada Council for the Arts, Arts Nova Scotia, and the Halifax Regional Municipality. 

She’s been regular part-time faculty at NSCAD University since 2005, and was visiting foreign faculty in the Film and Animation Department at SoonChunHyang University in South Korea from 2008-2012.

Buoy screening details 
Atlantic Shorts Program 2

September 15, 2018
Begins at 1:00 p.m.

September 17, 2018
Begins at 9:10 p.m.

To learn more about Becka and her work, visit beckabarker.info.

Talent Trust Scholarship Recipients on the Best of Halifax 2018 Ballot

In 2017 22,000 people cast over 800,000 individual votes for The Coast's annual readers’ choice awards.

We scoured the ballot for 2018 nominees, and discovered there's an impressive list of Talent Trust scholarship recipients with either individual nominations or as part of a nominated organization or group.

Voting began August 1 and will close on September 15. The winners will be announced on November 1. Head over to the Best of Halifax website to make your choices.

Best Choreographer

• Jacinte Armstrong
• Veronique Mackenzie
• Sara Coffin

Best Dancer

• Georgia Skinner 
• Sara Coffin
• Lydia Zimmer

Best Dance Company / Group

Mocean Dance 


• Sara Coffin
• Ruth-Ellen Kroll Jackson
• Jacinte Armstrong
• Rhonda Baker
• Sarah Rozee
• Sara Harrigan
• Lisa Phinney Langley
• Melanie Ferro

Halifax Dance


• Sara Coffin
• 
Veronique Mackenzie
• Olivia MacLean

Best Filmmaker

• Michael Melski

Best Theatre Actor

• Mary Fay Coady

Best Theatre Production

Princess Rules, Heist

• Jacinte Armstrong, choreography

Best Visual Artist

• Emily Vey Duke (in collaboration with Shary Boyle, The Illumination Project)
• Caitlin McGuire

Best Classical Artist / Group

Rhapsody Quintet


• Jennifer Jones
• David Langstroth

Blue Engine String Quartet

• Jennifer Jones
• Hilary Brown

Symphony Nova Scotia

• Jennifer Jones
• David Parker
• D’Arcy Gray

Best Jazz Artist / Band
Karen Myatt

Best Music Video
Classified, “Powerless” — Breagh Mackinnon, piano and vocals

Best Pop Artist / Band, Best Folk Artist / Band

Port Cities

• Breagh Mackinnon with bandmates Dylan Guthro and Carleton Stone

Best R&B Artist / Band, Best Solo Artist

• Reeny Smith

And When Alone Repeat - Short Film by Becka Barker Screens in Halifax

Becka Barker's local short film And When Alone Repeat screens at the Museum of Natural History Auditorium in Halifax on Friday, April 27, at 7:00 p.m. 

Becka’s work has been shown at the Ottawa International Animation Festival, Seoul’s EXiS (winner 2007, Best International Film), Images Festival (Toronto), Festival du Nouveau Cinéma (Montreal), KunstDoc Art Gallery (Seoul), Echo Park Film Centre (Los Angeles), Toronto Animated Images Society, WNDX (Winnipeg), and Struts Gallery (Sackville, NB). She's been on the faculty at NSCAD University since 2005 and was visiting foreign faculty in the Film and Animation Department at SoonChunHyang University in South Korea from 2008-2012.

And When Alone Repeat precedes the feature The Last Family, which documents 28 years of the life of Polish painter Zdzislaw Beksinski and his family, as seen through the eye of his camcorder. 

The screening of these two films is presented by Carbon Arc Cinema. Tickets can be purchased through their website.

May 1 at 5 p.m. (ADT) Scholarship Application Deadline

Don't wait! Scholarship application deadline for fall/winter studies in the arts is May 1, 2018 at 5 p.m.  

You may have seen reminders popping up in your social media feed over the past few days: if you're an emerging Nova Scotia artist and you're looking for some financial assistance in your upcoming studies, we want to hear from you. 

The Talent Trust provides scholarships to Nova Scotians who demonstrate exceptional potential and commitment to become established artists in their chosen fields.

Our annual scholarships include theatre, film/new media, literary arts, dance, music, voice, circus arts, visual arts, and design.

For all the details and to apply online, visit nstalenttrust.ns.ca and follow the scholarship link.

Time is flying: May 1 at 5 p.m. ADT is the deadline. If you're ready to complete your application, here are a few tips: 

• Start your application early to avoid technical problems. 
• Use Google Chrome as your browser. 
• Get in touch with us if you have questions or can't upload a file. 

P.S. If you run into difficulties, Jacqueline Steudler is here to help at scholarship(at)nstalenttrust.ns.ca