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!

Samantha Wilson Stars in the World Premier of Scoop May 30 – June 2, 2019.

Kick at The Dark Theatre, in collaboration with Eastern Front Theatre's Stages Festival presents Samantha Wilson, Ryanne Chisholm, and Julie Vandervoort in Julie’s new play Scoop, about a woman coming to terms with the consequences of breast cancer. 

May 30, 7pm
Jun 1, 7:30pm
Jun 2, 4pm

Scotiabank Stage
Neptune Theatre 

1593 Argyle St, Halifax

Samantha Wilson has been an educator, simulator, facilitator for more than 15 years. Samantha holds an MFA from York University and has taught at both York and Dalhousie University. As an educator she has worked for theatre companies, training camps and arts retreats across Canada, as well as, working as a private acting and voice coach. In Halifax she held the position of Director of Neptune Theatre School for five years. As a simulator and facilitator Samantha has worked for the Chiropractic College and E-roleplay, both based in Toronto. Samantha’s work as an actor and director have taken her across Canada and abroad. Locally, she has worked with many companies including Neptune Theatre, Eastern Front Theatre, Festival Antigonish, Ship’s Company and Halifax Theatre for Young People. Her work with 2b Theatre has taken her to LaMama, NYC; Edinburgh Fringe, Scotland; Spoletto, South Carolina and LitLive, Mumbai, India, as well as, to festivals across Canada. Samantha is a member of Canadian Actors’ Equity Association and ACTRA.

Bio information from Samantha's Portfolio on In Practice website.

Lise Cormier makes her Netflix debut in The Umbrella Academy.

In the opening scene of Episode 9 of the Umbrella Academy’s first season, Lise Cormier plays an unsuspecting nanny to a troubled and powerful girl in a backstory flashback. 

Netflix's Umbrella Academy.

Lise Cormier converses, sings and eventually flies through the air as she is tossed out of frame. The series stars Nova Scotia’s Ellen Page and other celebrity names like Mary J. Blige.

As Lise describes in her IMDb profile, she’s been acting, singing, and dancing in English and French productions. Her work onstage has been nominated twice for a Dora Award, and she has worked with many theatre companies across Canada, including Toronto theatre giant Soulpepper.

Lise has voiced 'Misty Simmons' on the award-winning CBC Radio drama Backbencher, voiced roles for The National Film Board, and has also appeared in many Lifetime Network movies.

Lise played the title role in Odyssey Theatre's production of The Amorous Servant. About this role, Patrick Langston from Artsfile wrote: 'A firecracker . . . played by the tirelessly excellent Lise Cormier.'

Watch the full Netflix clip and others on Lise Cormier’s reel.

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.

Introducing the Talent Trust and Nova Scotia Arts Endowment Fund 2018 Scholarship Recipients

We're happy to announce the Talent Trust has recently awarded scholarships to 65 emerging Nova Scotian artists in the fields of dance, music, theatre, film, new media, literary arts, and visual arts.

This is a significant increase over the 49 emerging artists who received scholarships in 2017.

The 65 successful scholarship recipients were chosen from a field of 141 applications over two submission periods, March 1 and May 1, 2018. 

Five of the 65 scholarships are supported by the Nova Scotia Arts Endowment Fund at $2,000 each. Talent Trust scholarships totalled $80,000 in 2018.

Applications were received from across the province, from Port Medway to New Glasgow, Antigonish to Prospect Bay. 

An independent, volunteer Scholarship Selection Committee, made up of twelve professional artists, two from each discipline, met in April and again in June to adjudicate the applications and determine scholarship amounts.

Scholarships make a significant difference in the lives of these emerging artists. From India Yeshe Gailey:

“Looking back on the musician I was before beginning music school, I dreamed, but I’m not sure I would have believed, that I could actually accomplish some of the things I can report from the past year. Last winter I published an album of contemporary cello music, in May I toured with the chamber jazz quartet New Hermitage, in June I worked with Philip Glass, I recently found myself in a string quartet with three truly excellent musicians, and now I’m halfway through my master’s study at McGill. It’s all very surreal, especially viewing my life condensed into a pithy list of accomplishments.”

India is currently pursuing her master’s degree in cello performance at McGill University. She received the Talent Trust Yue Lih and Marion Kuo Award in 2017.

Since we were founded in 1944, the Talent Trust has awarded scholarships to over 1,000 recipients.

The Talent Trust is supported by Code+Mortar, the 2011 Canada Games Legacy Fund, The Craig Foundation, RBC Foundation, Craft Nova Scotia, Music Nova Scotia, Visual Arts Nova Scotia, Theatre Nova Scotia, Debut Atlantic, ImmediaC, Pavia Cafe, Allan Carver Creative Partners, the Creative Nova Scotia Leadership Council, Support4Culture, Halifax, Dalhousie Music in Medicine Program and Arts Nova Scotia, as well as many private donors. 

We're pleased to work in partnership with the province to develop and promote our cultural resources for all Nova Scotians.

Congratulations to the Talent Trust and Nova Scotia Arts Endowment Fund Scholarship Recipients

Dance — Ballet

• Julia Barkhouse, Dartmouth 
• Olivia MacLean, Dartmouth
• Katherine McDonald, Halifax
• Mollie Oates-Johnson, Dartmouth
• Maggie Oates-Johnson, Dartmouth
• Aidan Vaudreuil, Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia Arts Endowment Fund Scholarship

Dance — Ballet/Contemporary

• Chloe Bruce, Dartmouth
• Claire Campbell, Head of St. Margaret’s Bay, Nova Scotia Arts Endowment Fund Scholarship
• Carrigan MacDonald, Hammonds Plains
• Stan Tonin, Windsor Junction

Dance — Modern/Contemporary

• Gabrielle Kachan, Halifax
• Lucie Schmidt, Lakeview
• Denver Scott, Halifax

Dance — Choreography

• Aliah Schwartz, Canning

Music — Keyboard (Piano)

• Devin Huang, Bedford
• Lala Lee, Halifax
• Chantal Peng, Wolfville
• Dakota Scott-Digout, Barrington
• Andrew Son, Halifax
• Cindy Thong, Halifax
• Alex (Zixuan) Yang, Bedford

Music — Strings (Cello)

• India Yeshe Gailey, Wolfville

Music — Strings (Violin)

• Leo Hanada, Halifax
• Rose Hanada, Halifax
• Wyatt Johnson, Halifax
• Lilith Richter-Stephenson, Dartmouth

Music — Strings (Bass Guitar)

• Mark Carroll, Valley
• Aidan Zann-Roland, Truro

Music — Voice (Opera)

• Meagan Adams, Halifax
• Ruusu-Maaria Brousseau, Halifax
• Hannah Ernst, Lunenburg
• Laura Johnston, Prospect Bay
• Emma MacEachern, Truro
• Breanna Miller, Hubley
• Natalie Mitchell, New Glasgow
• Morgan Reid, Sydney
• Abigail Sinclair, Halifax
• Shanice Skinner, New Glasgow

Music — Composition

• Ben Coleman, New Glasgow
• Gavin Fraser, Antigonish
• Jessica MacIsaac, Halifax
• Taylor MacGillivray, Halifax

Music — Brass (French Horn)

• Mimisu Lee, Halifax

Music — Brass (Euphonium)

• Ross Macintosh, Truro

Music — Woodwind (Clarinet)

• Lucas March, New Glasgow

Theatre — Acting

• Angus Stevens, Port Medway
• Rebecca Wolfe, Dartmouth

Theatre — Music Theatre

• Katie Cochrane, Bridgewater
• Brent Raddall, Summerville Centre

Visual/Fine Arts —Interdisciplinary

• Emma Allain, Halifax
• Helah Cooper, Lunenburg
• Arjun Lal, Halifax

Visual/Fine Arts — Design/Applied Craft

• Jodie Fox, Mosquodoboit Harbour
• Isaac Fresia, Halifax
• Andrew Gilmour, Halifax
• Jenna Lee, Bedford
• Ahmed Naji, Halifax

Visual/Fine Arts — Painting/Drawing

• NAT chantel, Dartmouth
• Curtis Botham, Bedford
• Caitlin McGuire, Halifax, Nova Scotia Arts Endowment Fund Scholarship
• Letitia Fraser, Halifax, Nova Scotia Arts Endowment Fund Scholarship
• Madeleine West, Halifax

Visual/Fine Arts — Textiles/Fashion

• Brianna West, Halifax
• Jessie McLaughlin, Bedford

Visual/Fine Arts — Typeface Design

• Lee Yuen-Rapati, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia Arts Endowment Fund Scholarship

Congratulations to all these emerging artists.

Wayne Burns and Susan Stackhouse in Shakespeare in Love at Neptune Theatre

Wayne Burns and Susan Stackhouse join the cast of Shakespeare in Love at Neptune Theatre in Halifax, which runs from September 4 - October 7.

Wayne Burns is a performer and producer who won the Talent Trust Theatre Nova Scotia award in 2011 and 2012. 

His most recognizable role is likely Lykos, the Prince of Athens, in the Syfy series Olympus. He can also be seen in Mr. D, Murdoch Mysteries, The Baroness Von Sketch Show, and Remedy.

Wayne is a graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada, and in addition to his acting career, has established his own production company, Dresser Drawer, which currently facilitates the creation and incubation of mixed media projects. 

His films have screened at international festivals including the REELWorld Film Festival, Toronto Youth Shorts (Winner – Industry Choice Award), InsideOut LGBT Film Festival, and NewFest – New York’s LGBT Film Festival. 

His first solo show, LIONESS, played to sold-out houses in Truro, Halifax and Toronto.

Susan Stackhouse is a specialist in voice and speech, and is a dialect coach as well as an actor. 

She’s a Talent Trust scholarship recipient who studied at Dalhousie University, the National Theatre School of Canada, and the Central School of Speech and Drama in London, England, where she received the prestigious Chevening Scholarship.  

Susan began her career as an educator at George Brown College, and returned to her home province of Nova Scotia where she’s a professor in the Acting Program and Associate Director (Productions) in the Fountain School of Performing Arts at Dalhousie University.

Susan spent 16 seasons with the Shaw Festival in Ontario both as a member of the acting ensemble and as a voice coach. 

A few of her acting highlights include Pointe Valaine, An Inspector Calls, Peer Gynt, Marathon ’33, The Voysey Inheritance, Cavalcade, The Women, The Road to Mecca, and The Real Thing.

She won the 2011 Robert Merritt Award for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in the Pulitzer Prize-winning play Rabbit Hole.

Susan is a huge supporter of the Talent Trust, and we’re thrilled to have her as a vital part of our community.

Shakespeare in Love details
September 4 - October 7, 2018

Tuesday to Friday - 7:30pm
Saturday and Sunday - 2pm & 7:30pm

September 4 - Pay What You Can
September 7 - Opening Night
September 11 - Industry Night
September 12 - Talkback Night
September 23 - Relaxed Performance

For ticket information, visit Neptune Theatre’s website