Welcome Ninette Babineau as a Talent Trust Honorary Lifetime Director

Today, we acknowledge Ninette Babineau. 

Music has been her life and many of you know her through her work as an arts education consultant, musician, adjudicator, clinician, teacher, mentor and performer. And some of you might have even had violin lessons with her. Ninette Babineau’s career has spanned over five decades. Her résumé is a long list of accomplishments, experiences, and impressive affiliations.

What many of you might not know is that Ninette Babineau was a Talent Trust board member for many years and helped shape the Talent Trust. Since stepping down from the Talent Trust she has been one of our leading donors and supporters.

We honoured Ninette at the 2021 Special Awards Ceremony in December by adding her officially back into the Talent Trust family as an Honorary Lifetime Director. 

Thank you, Ninette!

“Through varying roles, I have enjoyed a long association with the Nova Scotia Talent Trust and have watched with delight as it has developed into a significant support organization for our young and emerging artists.  The range of fields of endeavour has continued to expand to meet the demands of the continuing and changing world of today’s artist.

We enjoy the presence of hard working and talented young people in this province who are contributing to the cultural life of their respective communities.  Many are preparing for a life in the arts under the guidance of dedicated teachers and mentors. They deserve our support.

I am pleased and honoured to have been invited to join the Talent Trust Board once again." States Ninette Babineau.

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

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.

Heemin Choi Receives Rare Violin from Canada Council Instrument Bank

Heemin Choi plays his 1768 Januarius Gagliano violin. Photo: Canada Council Instrument Bank

Heemin Choi is one of the 2018 recipients of a rare violin from the Canada Council Instrument Bank.

Two dozen musicians were selected by a peer assessment committee to receive some of the world’s most legendary cellos and violins. 

Over the next three years, Heemin will have the opportunity to play a 1768 Miller Januarius Gagliano violin. Gagliano was an Italian luthier whose father was thought to be a contemporary of the legendary Antonio Stradivari.

Heemin began playing violin at the age of 6. He received a Talent Trust scholarship to assist with his music studies, and completed a bachelor’s degree in music from Dalhousie University's Fountain School of Performing Arts. 

He’s currently a master’s student at Rice University's Shepherd School of Music in Texas.

Heemin won the Canadian Young Artist Competition in 2012, and was the recipient of the Hnatyshyn Developing Artist Grant in 2011. He is the Talent Trust Goodwill Ambassador for 2018.

Heemin has performed throughout North America, Europe and Asia, and recently appeared at the Pond Playhouse in Halifax to perform with cellist and Talent Trust scholarship recipient Ifan Williams for Theatre Arts Guild’s opening of Death and the Maiden.

Violinist Marc Djokic Launches his Debut Album, Solo Seven

Violinist Marc Djokic launches Solo Seven, his debut album of Canadian music on September 22. 

The official launch party takes place in the main foyer of Salle Bourgie at the Musée des beaux-arts in Montréal at 9:30 p.m.

The celebration follows Marc's concert with the MCO (McGill Chamber Orchestra). Composers featured on the album will be in attendance to say a few words about their works. 

Marc began studying with his father, violinist Philippe Djokic, one of Canada’s great soloists, at an early age. He made his first orchestra debut at 14, and his scholarships and awards include a Talent Trust scholarship, an award from Canada Council’s Instrument Bank, and the Governor General’s Millennium Award. He’s been featured on Bravo! television series The Classical Now.

CAMMAC Music Centre named Marc as their first Artist-in-Residence for the 2017-2019 seasons. During his residency he’ll teach, perform, conduct research, and create a commissioned work to be premiered at CAMMAC.

Now based in Montreal, Marc will return to Halifax to appear in the Cecilia Concerts 30th anniversary season with a concert on February 24, 2019. (2019 is also a notable Talent Trust anniversary year — our 75th!)

Solo Seven can be purchased online. Click here for details. To learn more about Marc and explore his music, visit marcdjokic.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!

Heemin Choi and Ifan Williams Perform Death and the Maiden - Presented by Theatre Arts Guild

On June 17 at 2:00 p.m. Theatre Arts Guild will present a live performance of the first two movements of Schubert’s concerto Death and the Maiden by Phillippe Djokic, Heemin Choi, Margot Aldrich and Ifan Williams. The performance is approximately 35 minutes. 

Heemin Choi (violin) completed his bachelor’s degree at Dalhousie University’s Fountain School of Performing Arts under international award-winning Philippe Djokic, and is currently a master’s student at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music in Texas, studying under Paul Kantor, who is one of the most sought-after violin teachers in North America. 

Heemin is the Talent Trust 2018 Goodwill Ambassador.

Ifan Williams (cello) has performed with the New Philharmonia of London, London Symphony Orchestra, Canadian Chamber Ensemble, and the Classical Quartet of Montreal. 

He’s been Artist In Residence at the University of New Brunswick, Professor of Cello at Mount Allison University, and is the current Chair of Musique Royale and Opera Nova Scotia.

The play will begin shortly after the June 17 matinee performance. Death and the Maiden runs from June 7 - 23 at The Pond Playhouse in Halifax (audience note: suitable for adults only with explicit language that may be offensive to some. Gun shots will be heard.) For tickets, visit Ticket Atlantic.

Gina Burgess Presents an Exclusive Quintet Premiere at the Halifax Central Library

For this year's Obey Convention, Gina Burgess has created a new and unique piece which she will present at the Halifax Central Library. 

Gina is a four-time ECMA award winner with the gypsy-jazz outfit Gypsophilia, fronts her own klezmer band Der Heisser, is one fifth of the Iqaluit-based Arctic rock band The Jerry Cans, and is a regular collaborator in flamenco and Arabic music ensembles. 

Inspired by the minimalistic compositional tradition of Terry Riley and Steve Reich, Gina has also infused elements of traditional Inuit throat singing, poetry, trance, and Gregorian/Indian chant in her latest composition.

The quintet will feature Gina (violin) Susanne Brown (viola) Norm Adams (cello) Lukas Pierce (double bass) and Janice Jackson (voice).

The premiere will take place Halifax on Thursday, May 24 at the Paul O’Regan Hall at the Halifax Central Library. 

The show starts at 6pm. Admission is free.

Violinist Marc Djokic to Perform in Cecilia Concerts 30th Anniversary Season

Halifax classical violinist  Marc Djokic joins the notable Cecilia Concerts lineup for their 30th anniversary season. 

Marc recently won the 2017-2018 Prix Goyer, the biggest music prize in Canada, and one of the largest in the world for a collaborative artist emerging in classical music. He's performed as a soloist with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Quebec Symphony Orchestra, and The National Arts Centre Orchestra.

Marc's ensemble Trio Tangere teams him with two of the most respected classical guitarists on the continent, Jérôme Ducharme and Louis Trépanier. The concert takes place February 24, 2019.

For ticket information, visit the Cecilia Concerts website.