CN Halifax Community Board believes in the future of Nova Scotia Artists

Supporting Nova Scotia students on their way to pursue an artistic career is a joy and privilege. Also, partnering with an international corporation like CN through the CN Halifax Community Board for an annual named scholarship is an honour. 

“The Nova Scotia Talent Trust 

highlights exceptional commitments for Nova Scotians to become established artists. The CN Halifax Community Board is honoured to support these scholarships for emerging NS artists with a focus on supporting people and arts, a core principle not only of our board but also a corporate philosophy at CN," states Alan Abraham, Chair, CN Community Board

It is with excitement the Nova Scotia Talent Trust announces the CN Halifax Community Board Scholarship. In spring 2021, CN Halifax Community Board approved a grant of $25,000, which has been invested throuand will support the named scholarship for years to come. 

“The investment in our next generation of Nova Scotia’s artists will enhance and further our cultural landscape. Not only will the monetary support help our scholarship recipients pay for their studies, but it also reaffirms their hard work to become established artists in their discipline. We thank the CN Halifax Community Board for believing in our Nova Scotia artists,” says NSTT Executive Director Jacqueline Steudler. 

The annual CN Halifax Community Board Scholarship of $1,000 will be presented annually to a scholarship recipient who shows exceptional commitment and professional potential as an artist. The first recipient selected by the Scholarship Selection Committee of the NSTT will be announced on September 15, 2021. 

About CN

CN is a world-class transportation leader and trade-enabler. Essential to the economy, to the customers, and to the communities it serves, CN safely transports more than 300 million tons of natural resources, manufactured products, and finished goods throughout North America every year. As the only railroad connecting Canada’s Eastern and Western coasts with the U.S. South through a 19,500-mile rail network, CN and its affiliates have been contributing to community prosperity and sustainable trade since 1919. CN is committed to programs supporting social responsibility and environmental stewardship.

About Nova Scotia Talent Trust

Since 1944, the Talent Trust has provided more than $2 million to over 1,000 Nova Scotians, primarily young people, who have demonstrated talent and potential to become professional artists in theatre, dance, fine craft and design, music, circus arts, media, film, literary, and visual arts. There is no other comparable organization in the country. In 2019, the Talent Trust celebrated its 75th anniversary year featuring former scholarship recipients with a travelling art exhibition, pop-up events in theatre, music, dance, film screenings and more.  

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

 

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

75th Birthday Celebration and new Partnership with CIOE-97.5FM, May 2, 2019

Come on out and celebrate 

with us on

May 2, 2019 
from 1 - 3 p.m. 
at CIOE-97.5FM

11 Glendale Ave, Unit 4

Lower Sackville, NS

On May 2, 1944 the Nova Scotia Talent Trust's funding papers were signed by Harold Connolly Minister of Industry and Publicity, John E. Lloyd Mayor of Halifax, and Henry F. Munro Superintendent of Education.

We are celebrating our 75th Birthday with a new partnership and the launch of the Talent Trust Artist Spotlight radio show.

Jim Robson, Chairman of CIOE-97.5 FM states: “I am delighted with the newly formed partnership between Nova Scotia Talent Trust and CIOE-97.5 FM on the eve of your amazing 75th Anniversary. The natural synergies flowing between our two cultural organizations will ensure that Nova Scotia's rich treasury of talent across all artistic disciplines is properly recognized, celebrated, and presented to the public through special dedicated radio programs and concerts that are streamed live around the world, along with other cooperative cultural initiatives. Together, we will create infinite opportunities for the enhancement and ongoing development of Nova Scotia's world-class artistic community.”

The Talent Trust Artist Spotlight will be hosted by Breagh MacKinnon, NSTT board member, scholarship alumni, and singer, songwriter with Port Cities. The show will air on the first Thursday of the month at 2 p.m., premiering May 2nd.

“I am honoured and excited to be hosting the “Nova Scotia Talent Trust Artist Spotlight. I look forward to getting to know our Talent Trust Alumni and bringing you unique and original content from some of the many ground-breaking artists we have supported for the past 75 years. Hear stories, performances, and interviews you can't find anywhere else!” Breagh MacKinnon.

Since 1944, the NSTT has provided more than $2 million to over 1,000 Nova Scotians, primarily young people, who have demonstrated talent and potential to become professional artists in theatre, dance, fine craft and design, music, circus arts, media, film, literary, and visual arts. There is no other comparable organization in the country.

For more information, go to nstalenttrust.ca

ABOUT CIOE-97.5FM
CIOE-97.5FM is a not-for-profit radio station operated by the Cobequid Radio Society (CRS) whose board of directors reflect a diversity of backgrounds and are representative of communities across the region that we serve. Established in 2015 CIOE houses an in house concert studio, art gallery and broadcast premisies.

CIOE 97.5FM is the Voice and Home of East Coast Music, committed to over 97.5 Hours a week of East Coast Music of all genres. CIOE’s primary mission is to deliver a top quality broadcast service whose inclusive community driven spoken word initiatives, special music based programs, and eclectic hybrid music format, is dedicated to informing, educating, stimulating, and entertaining listeners of all ages and promoting and exposing the talents of East Coast Artists throughout Atlantic Canada, nationally, and beyond.
For more information go to communityradio.ca

ABOUT NOVA SCOTIA TALENT TRUST Since 1944, the Talent Trust has provided more than $2 million to over 1,000 Nova Scotians, primarily young people, who have demonstrated talent and potential to become professional artists in theatre, dance, fine craft and design, music, circus arts, media, film, literary, and visual arts. There is no other comparable organization in the country. In 2019, the Talent Trust is celebrating its 75th anniversary year featuring former scholarship recipients with a traveling art exhibition, pop-up events in theatre, music, and dance, film screenings and more.

The NSTT is supported by the 2011 Canada Games Legacy Fund, RBC Foundation, The Craig Foundation, the Creative Nova Scotia Leadership Council, Dalhousie Music in Medicine HEALS Program, Support4Culture, NSTT Foundation, Cecilia Concerts, Visual Arts Nova Scotia, Theatre Nova Scotia, Debut Atlantic, Craft Nova Scotia, immediaC, Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia, Community Radio CIOE 97.5 FM, Symphony Nova Scotia, Neptune Theatre, FIN Atlantic International Film Festival, RadioOui98.5, Mocean Dance, Art Gallery of NS, Cape Breton University Art Gallery, MSVU Art Gallery, Halifax Central Library, Halifax Municipality, and Arts Nova Scotia. The NSTT is pleased to work in partnership with the province to develop and promote our cultural resources for all Nova Scotians.

Barbara Hannigan wins 2019 Juno Award

photo: BarbaraHannigan.com

Congratulations to Barbara Hannigan for winning the 2019 Juno Award for Classical album of the year: vocal or choral.
Barbara Hannigan with Reinbert De Leeuw, Vienna: Fin de siècle​

This is the second time in a row that Barbara Hannigan from Waverley won a Juno Award. 

In 2018, she won a GRAMMY Award and a Juno Award for her album Crazy Girl Crazy. More information can be found at BarbaraHannigan.com

Karen Myatt Helps Celebrate 200 Years of Province House on March 20, 2019

The Province House celebrates its 200th Anniversary with a House Concert Series open to the public.

Recipient Karen Myatt adds her voice to mark this milestone with Jazzing up the Red Room:

March 20, 2019
7:30 p.m., Red Chamber, Province House

Myatt joins Daniel Matto and pianist Holly Arsenault to pay homage to their favourite jazz singers in the oldest legislative building in Canada.

Join the trio for a 2-set soiree of new and old smooth and sultry, classic and contemporary standards.

This event is free and open to the public. Tickets are limited to 60 and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration will open on March 6, 2019.

Lydia Zimmer Performs Feb 23 & 24 at Kinetic Dance's Open Studio

Image from The Coast. Picture by Tim Agler.

Lydia Zimmer performs new original choreography, in Kinetic Studio's Open Studio Series.

Feb. 23 & 24, 8 pm
DANSpace
1531 Grafton Street
Downtown Halifax
https://www.kineticstudio.ca/


Talent Trust recipient Lydia Zimmer has pursued professional training at the Boston Conservatory, Canada's National Ballet School and Springboard Danse Montreal to emerge as an original and daring dancer and choreographer.

Her solo piece SONDERLING explores mental illness, eccentricity and unusual movement.

Read about Lydia Zimmer in The Coast & meet a younger version of the artist on Dance Channel TV 2015.

                                       
         

Cecilia Concert's presents Marc Djokic on Sunday, February 24, 2019 at 2 p.m.

photo credit: Marc Djokic at marcdjokic.com

Cecilia Concerts presents
Trio Tangere with

Marc Djokic

Sunday, February 24 at 2 p.m. 

Lilian Piercey Concert Hall, 

Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts, Halifax

The concert opens with a special performance by prize-winning young Halifax pianist Devin Huang, who is also a Nova Scotia Talent Trust scholarship recipient.

From Cecilia Concert's press release:

Violinist Marc Djokic, originally from Halifax but now residing in Montréal, has been praised for his rhythmic sense and natural musical phrasing. Known for his masterful and virtuosic performances, Djokic recently won the Prix Goyer, which is the biggest prize in Canada, and one of the largest in the world, for a collaborative artist emerging in classical music.

Djokic, who is a Nova Scotia Talent Trust multiple scholarship recipient, returns to his native Halifax for a special concert on February 24th with distinguished classical guitarists Jérôme Ducharmen and Louis Trépanier. Winner of the Guitar Foundation of America International Competition, Ducharmenholds a diploma from the Conservatoire de musique et d’art dramatique de Montréal and a doctorate degree in music from Université de Montréal.

Trio Tangere will perform works by Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco, Astor Piazzolla, Claude Debussy, Christine Donkin, Matthias Maute, Béla Bartók, and Clarice Assad. 

“This collaboration is special because it combines the sounds of two types of string instruments, plucked & bowed,” says Djokic, who appears frequently as soloist with Canada’s top orchestras and in chamber music festivals around the world. 

“Having two guitarists in the group exchanging lead and rhythm really expands on the potential of the guitar sound. It allows the group to explore more music and arranging possibilities. We play music originally written for our instrumentation, but we can also arrange and play other music with multiple voicing.”

The performance marks the trio’s first performance in Nova Scotia. 

“I’m really excited to show the Tangere lads my hometown and introduce them to our audience,” says Djokic. “I always feel honoured to come back home to perform in Halifax. The city has become a highlight destination for musicians from all over the world and our audience is always welcoming of visiting talent. I never take for granted the opportunity to perform in my hometown.” 

The violinist was Cecilia Concerts’ Musician-In-Residence in 2009/2010.

Presented by Cecilia Concerts, the concert takes place Sunday, February 24th at 2pm at Lilian Piercey Concert Hall within the Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts. Tickets ($35 Adult, $25 Senior, $15 Students, $10 Children) are available online at ceciliaconcerts.ca, by phone at 902-423-0143, and at the door while they last.

Lux Habrich Selected as Media Arts Scholar for the Centre for Art Tapes Class of 2018-19

Lux Habrich is among the 2018-19 media arts scholars at the Centre for Art Tapes (CFAT). 

Originally from Montréal, Lux moved to Atlantic Canada in 2012 to complete an Interdisciplinary BFA at NSCAD University. She received Talent Trust scholarships in interdisciplinary visual arts to assist with her studies in 2016.

Lux was a participant in Craft Nova Scotia’s Craft LAIR, an eight-week community focused local artist in residence program in 2015, and was a mentee in the 2017-18 Visual Arts Nova Scotia Mentorship Program.

She employs tactile craft processes in her work as she explores their highly political nature as a domestic, feminine and often undervalued form of production.

Details of work by Lux Habrich from CONVERSATIONS: the VANS Mentorship Program exhibition

The CFAT scholarship program is an intensive six months of education and mentorship for artists who will make a media art piece in a medium where they have little to no experience. Artists will learn new art-making skills during the program, and are responsible to complete their projects by the program deadline.

To learn more about Lux, visit her website at luxhabrich.com.

Wyatt Johnson Receives a Special Memorial Violin

On July 2, an unusual scholarship was presented to an emerging Nova Scotia musician. Wyatt Johnson (above, centre) received a violin that had been donated by Bob Bauer (left), in honour of Dr. Michael Parker, a well-respected violinist, teacher, and composer.

Dr. Michael Parker was born in Toronto and studied violin and viola at the Royal Conservatory of Music, in Banff and at Michigan State University. In 1976, he moved to Newfoundland where he served as Principal Violist with the Newfoundland Symphony, and was Professor of Classics and Historical Studies at Sir Wilfred Grenfell College, where he taught courses in Music Appreciation and presented many musical events. He was a major figure in the music community in Newfoundland. 

Michael's music has been performed throughout Canada, and in Amsterdam, London, Paris, Cairo, France and the United States. He won prizes in national and provincial competitions, and a recording of his chamber music for clarinet, LYRE (1997), was nominated for an East Coast Music Award for Best Classical Album.

In 2007, Michael retired from MUN and relocated to Halifax, teaching classics part-time at St. Mary's and Dalhousie Universities. He shared his love of opera, at both Grenfell College and at Dal, through his "Sunday Night at the Opera," lectures that included screenings of opera productions from his collection.

Photo: Bob Bauer prepares to present Wyatt Johnson with his violin.
NSTT Past Chair Adrian Hoffman and Wyatt's dad look on.

Friend and musical collaborator Bob Bauer received Michael’s violin after he passed away in 2017. Bob approached Talent Trust board member and Past Chair Adrian Hoffman (who was also a friend of Michael’s) about donating the instrument to a student. After a few weeks of repairs, the Michael Parker memorial violin was ready.

The Talent Trust normally only grants financial scholarships and special awards, but given the nature of the gift, our jury gathered together to select a student who needed a violin, and 14-year-old Wyatt was chosen.

An official presentation will take place at our annual awards ceremony in December.

This story originally appeared in our August newsletter. Click here to subscribe!

Talent Trust awards over $33,000 to the 2017 Special Award Recipients at today's Special Awards Ceremony

The Talent Trust (NSTT) recognized the 2017 Scholarship and Special Award recipients at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 12, 2017 at Halifax Central Library in a ceremony attended by His Honour The Honourable Arthur J. LeBlanc, ONS, QC Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia. Created to support the career of contralto Portia White 73 years ago, the Talent Trust has continued to support talented Nova Scotian artists as they pursue their studies toward establishing professional careers in the arts. One such gifted artist is Halifax' musical theatre performer Maya Read, who received the $1,500 Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Artistic Achievement, the NSTT’s highest honour for a student in any discipline. Read studies musical theatre at Sheridan College in Oakville, ON.  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 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 awarded every December until 2022 and are the legacy of the 2011 Canada Games Young Artists of Excellence Program. In 2017, the two $10,000 awards were received by Halifax film producer Gharrett Paon and type designer Lee Yuen-Rapati from Dartmouth.  Gharrett Paon (Halifax) is currently studying film production at the Canadian Film Centre in Toronto, ON.

Type designer Lee Yuen-Rapati(Dartmouth), is studying type design at the University of Reading in Reading, England. The other Special Award recipients, each of whom demonstrates exceptional potential to become professional artists, are: Scenographer Jodie Fox (Musquodoboit Harbour) is the recipient of the $1,500 RBC Emerging Artist Award for applied craft/design theatre. Fox studies scenography (stage design) at the Hochschule Hanover in Hanover, Germany. (Award supported by RBC Emerging Artist Program.) New Award - Given for the fist time in 2017: Cello player India Gailey (Wolfville) is the recipient of the $1000 Yue Lih and Marion Kuo Award for exceptional commitment and potential in music as an instrumentalist. Gailey is currently studying at McGill University in Montreal, QC. (Award supported by Marion Kuo and Earl Wadden.) Visual artist Curtis Botham (Bedford) is the recipient of the $1,000 Charlotte Wilson-Hammond/Visual Arts Nova Scotia Award. Botham graduated with a BFA from NSCAD. He is currently attending the NSCAD University Residency Program in New Glasgow. (Award supported by Charlotte Wilson-Hammond and Visual Arts Nova Scotia.) Opera singer Benjamin Shaw (Halifax) is the recipient of the $1,000 Portia White Awardfor voice. He studies at the University of Toronto, ON. (Award supported by the Music-in-Medicine and Humanities-HEALS Program, Dalhousie University.) Ballet dancer Maggie Oates-Johnson (Dartmouth) is the recipient of the$1,500 Robert George Jackson Award for dance. Maggie studied ballet at Canada's National Ballet School in Toronto this past summer. (Award supported by the Jackson family.) Rebecca Wolfe (Dartmouth) is the recipient of the $500 Theatre Nova Scotia Award for theatre. Wolfe is studying theatre performance at the Humber College in Toronto, ON. (Award supported by Theatre Nova Scotia.) Pianist Chantal Peng (Wolfville) is the recipient of the $1,000 Tietje Zonneveld Award and is studying privately with John Hansen in Wolfville. (Award supported by Tietje Zonneveld.) Choral conductor Thomas Burton (Wolfville) is the recipient of the $750 Kenneth Elloway Award for classical performance. He is studying choral conducting at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, USA. (Award supported by the Elloway family.) Ballet dancer Carrigan MacDonald (Hammonds Plains) is the recipient of the $1000 Janice Merritt Flemming Award and is currently studying at L'Ecole Superieure de Ballet du Québec in Montreal, QC. (Award supported by the Flemming family.) Euphonium player Ross Macintosh (Truro) is the recipient of the $1,000 Raymond Simpson Award for music and is studying at University of Toronto in Toronto, ON. (Award supported by the Simpson family.) Film Producer Gharrett Paon (Halifax) is the recipient of the $1,000 Shelagh Mackenziehe  Award and is currently studying film production at the Canadian Film Centre in Toronto, ON. In addition to the Special Awards announced today, the Nova Scotia Talent Trust gave out scholarships to 48 recipients earlier this year. You can find a list of the 2017 Nova Scotia Talent Trust scholarship recipients below. List of the 2017 NSTT Scholarship and Nova Scotia Arts Endowment Fund Scholarship Recipients Dance - Ballet               Julia Barkhouse, Dartmouth Kieron Harper, Halifax Claire Campbell, Head of St. Margaret's Bay Carrigan MacDonald, Hammonds Plains Olivia MacLean, Dartmouth Ellery Jackson, Dartmouth, NS Arts Endowment Fund Scholarship Katherine McDonald, Halifax Maggie Oates-Johnson, Dartmouth, NS Arts Endowment Fund Scholarship Mollie Oates-Johnson, Dartmouth Niamh Perrins, Wolfville - Modern/Contemporary Lucie Schmidt, Lakeview Stan Tonin, Windsor Junction Music - Keyboard - Piano Vlad Chiriac, Bedford Devin Huang, Bedford Lala Lee, Halifax Chantal Peng, Wolfville Dakota Scott-Digout, Barrington Andrew Son, Halifax Alex (Zixuan) Yang, Bedford - Strings - Cello India Gailey, Wolfville - Strings - Violin Lilith Richter-Stephenson, Dartmouth Heemin Choi, Bedford - Strings - Guitar Matthew Fraser, Inverness - Conducting Thomas Burton, Wolfville - Voice - Opera Nickolas Higgs, New Glasgow Breanna Miller, Halifax Morgan Reid, Sydney Benjamin Shaw, Vancouver,  NS Arts Endowment Fund Scholarship - Brass - French Horn Mimisu Lee, Halifax - Brass - Euphonium Ross Macintosh, Truro - Composition Adam Clarke, Antwerpen - Woodwind - Oboe Julia Millett, Lunenburg Film  - Production Gharrett Paon, Halifax Theatre  - Acting Rebecca Wolfe, Dartmouth - Music Theatre Ria Kapur, Bedford Emily Robertson, Oakville Maya Read, Dartmouth, NS Arts Endowment Fund Scholarship - Directing Luciana Silvestre Fernandes, Halifax Visual/Fine Arts  - Interdisciplinary Gabriel Soligo, Halifax, NS Arts Endowment Fund Scholarship - Design/Applied Craft Jodie Fox, Mosquadoboit Harbour Isaac Fresia, Halifax Andrew Gilmour, Halifax Lee Yuen-Rapati, Dartmouth - Painting Drawing Nat Chantel, Dartmouth Curtis Botham, Bedford Caterina Slamovits, Halifax - Printmaking Emma van Zeumeren, Dartmouth Literary Arts - Fiction Conor Martin, Dartmouth