Join Us for the 14th Annual Portia White Award Gala Concert with Karen Myatt

Karen Myatt adds her voice to the 14th Annual NSTT Portia White Gala Concert, marking the organization's 75th anniversary and Portia White's infamous solo performance at the New York City Town Hall, an achievement Karen also shares. Fellow past scholarship recipient Jennifer King, will accompany Karen on piano.

Photography by Michèle Parent of Chèle Foto Couture

Friday, Nov. 22, 7:30 p.m.  
Faith Tabernacle
6225 Summit St, Halifax

Tickets $20

Printed tickets can be obtained from choir or band members, or reserved through the Medical Humanities office at (902) 494-1533 or medhuman@dal.ca. Tickets are also available at the door.

The 14th Annual Portia White Gala Concert, organized by Dalhousie Music in Medicine features Dalhousie Health Professions Chorale and the Sackville Concert Band. Chorale Artistic Director, Bryan Crocker and Principal Band Conductor, Jim Forde, have arranged a wonderful selection from Karen's catalogue to kick off the holiday concert season!

When Portia White performed her breakthrough concert in 1944, she changed her own life and many more, as she continues to do through her legacy. 75 years ago Portia White became the first Canadian ever to perform at the New York Town Hall. The concert initiated her ascent to become one of the best singers of the 20th century.

A part of the proceeds from this concert are directed towards the Nova Scotia Talent Trust's Portia White Award to assist a young Nova Scotia voice student. Since 1985, many deserving vocalists have been awarded. 

About Karen Myatt:

Karen Myatt is a vocalist and theatre artist who has appeared on stages in New York, Mexico, and throughout Canada. Professionally, she trained at the Randolph Academy in Toronto and is a graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City. In addition to performing around North America, Karen as a staple in the musical theatre community of Nova Scotia performing major roles in many of Neptune Theatre’s most popular productions including Beauty & the Beast, Into the Woods, Mary Poppins, A Christmas Carol, and Sweeney Todd.

About Jennifer King:

Nova Scotia’s Jennifer King is a versatile pianist who is at home as a soloist or collaborator. She has established herself as a sought-after performer and recording artist in the region. Jennifer’s recording, O Mistress Moon, was nominated for both the ECMA and Music Nova Scotia Classical Album of the Year for 2019. Her second recording, Doolittle: Minute Études “Excerpts” (Live) was released in August of 2019 and a new video is now available on You Tube. Jennifer has a Master of Music in performance from McGill and post-graduate diplomas from University of Reading and Royal Academy of Music in London. She has received numerous prestigious awards including scholarships from the Nova Scotia Talent Trust.

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Talent Trust Artist Spotlight Radio with Karen Myatt and Barbara Hannigan

Tune in for the 7th edition of the Talent Trust Artist Spotlight.

Every first Thursday of the month with your host, past scholarship recipient and current board member Breagh MacKinnon.

November 7 at 1 p.m. 

97.5 CIOE Community Radio

Listen in to hear about the intriguing musical lives of Karen Myatt and Barbara Hannigan.

About Karen Myatt:

Karen Myatt is a vocalist and theatre artist who has appeared on stages in New York, Mexico, and throughout Canada. Professionally, she trained at the Randolph Academy in Toronto and is a graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City. In addition to performing around North America, Karen as a staple in the musical theatre community of Nova Scotia performing major roles in many of Neptune Theatre’s most popular productions including Beauty & the Beast, Into the Woods, Mary Poppins, A Christmas Carol, and Sweeney Todd.

About Barbara Hannigan:

Barbara Hannigan is Grammy award-winning Canadian soprano and conductor, known for her performances of contemporary opera. She has worked with some of the world's most prominent symphony orchestras including the Berlin Philharmonic, London Symphony Orchestra and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra. In 2016, Hannigan was made a Member of the Order of Canada, one of Canada's highest civilian honours.

Previous episodes included:

Hannah Mae Cruddas, Chantal Peng, Becka Baker Gwyneth Christoffel Gina Burgess, Marcel d'Entremont, Gharrett Paon, Marc Djokic, Charley Young, Shandi Mitchell, Jane Archibald and Charlotte Wilson-Hammond. 

You can listen to former episodes here.

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

75th Anniversary Ambassadors from Mocean Dance Present Sara Coffin's Wild Within

Past recipient, Mocean Dance’s Co-Artistic Director, Sara Coffin presents Wild Within, her new work resulting in part from residencies that took place in Annapolis Royal and Truro with additional NSTT alumni Georgia Skinner and Lydia Zimmer in partnership with the NS Talent Trust’s 75th Anniversary celebrations.

photo: Nick Bottomley
Nov 14 – 16, 8 p.m. 

Nov 14 – 16, 8 p.m.
& Nov 16, 2 p.m.

Alderney Landing Theatre

2 Ochterloney St, Dartmouth


Coffin, along with alumni Georgia Skinner and Lydia Zimmer, who also perform in the Wild Within, acted as ambassadors of the Talent Trust program, to help inspire young dancers across the province, inform students of the training scholarship program, as well as offer workshops for the local high school and community members to take in a behind-the-scenes look at the creative process of Inside Wild.

About Wild Within

Inspired by the landscapes of the north; the history and power of the Yukon River, paired with the magnificent force of the east coast waters Coffin takes on a journey of reverence for the land, acknowledging the wild within and the femininity of water. Listening to the energy held within the land and the wisdom of our mothers’ this new quartet dances within the poetic play between function and decay found in nature’s life cycles.

About Sara Coffin

Sara Coffin is an independent dance artist, dance educator and Co-Artistic Director of Mocean Dance. She holds an MFA in Choreography from Smith College (USA), BFA in Dance from Simon Fraser University and Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from Dalhousie University.

An award-winning dancer and choreographer, her choreographic work has been presented in many prominent dance festivals including; Canada Dance Festival/Magnetic North Theatre Festival, Dances for a Small Stage, Dancing on the Edge and Dance in Vancouver, commissioned by Mocean Dance (2014, 2016, 2019), and her 2011 self-produced work Taking Your Experience for Mine was described by the Georgia Straight as “hauntingly gorgeous.” Coffin’s research interests include interdisciplinary collaboration, technology as an extension of the body, contact improvisation, and the poetic junction between vulnerability, resiliency, and courage. Her award credits include Nova Scotia Established Artist Award (2018), the Gretchen Moran Teaching Fellowship (Smith College, 2012-2014), Iris Garland Emerging Choreographer Award (2009), and BC Emerging Dance Artist Award (2005).

About Georgia Skinner

From Halifax NS, Georgia Skinner trained in ballet, contemporary, modern, and hip-hop at Coastal Dance from age three through high school. She graduated from The School of Toronto Dance Theatre’s Professional Training Program in 2014 where she worked with many esteemed artists. Georgia has traveled nationally and internationally for dance training during her years in school, and also attended ImPulsTanz International Dance Festival 2015 in Vienna, Austria for professional development training. She recently worked with Coastal Dance, East Coast Dance Academy, The Woods Hip Hop Company, Mocean Dance, Nostos Collectives Dance Association, as well as in various independent productions.

About Lydia Zimmer

Lydia Zimmer is a graduate of Walnut Hill School for the Arts and The Boston Conservatory (BFA). Since returning to her home city of Halifax, Lydia has created several works supported by Canada Council for the Arts and Arts NS. These include Bonne Nuit, presented through Live Art Dance; Embankment, commissioned by Votive Dance; Sonderlings, commissioned by Nostos Dance Collectives, and Sondering, a solo presented by FODAR. Lydia completed a dance residency at Nes Artist Residency in Skagastrond, Iceland, and a choreographic residency in Sofia, Bulgaria at the Derida Dance Centre. This past summer Lydia participated in Banff Centre for Creativity’s Music and Dance Creative Composition Lab. She currently works for Mocean Dance, Nostos Dance Collectives and Votive Dance.

Biographical and event description from Mocean Dance's website. 

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Alex McLean Directs tiny

Past scholarship recipient Alex McLean directs tiny, the multi-media theatre performance co-production with Zuppa Theatre Co. and Eastern Front Theatre, in association with Vertical City Performance and the Glenbow Museum. 

photo of Alex from Kings Community blog

tiny

November 5 to17
Daily 8-9:30 p.m.
Saturday matinees

2 -3:30 p.m.

Scotia Square Mall
5251 Duke St Suite 1210, Halifax, at the former NSLC location on the main level of Scotia Square, back of the food court

Wheelchair/powerchair accessible

"People are trying to figure out what the new contract is between a piece of theatre and its audience. What can a piece of theatre be?” Alex McLean once asked on the Kings Community blog, a few years back, but the question remains relevant.  “Theatre is re-inventing itself. It’s happened before with radio and TV, and now with instant access to media that most people have, it is having a huge effect on where people go to get stories and dramatic experiences and how they want to interact with them. 

Keeping with his curiosity, tiny is part theatre performance, part immersive installation, and part museum exhibition that explores the everyday lives of superheroes. In an alternate version of the 20th Century, a group of extraordinary individuals tries to live ordinary lives—and alters the course of history in the process. 

About Alex McLean: 

As Co-artistic Director at Zuppa, Alex McLean has directed and steered the creation of 16 of Zuppa’s shows since 1999. McLean earned his BA (Hons) in Theatre and Contemporary Studies at the University of King’s College, his MA in the Study of Drama at the University of Toronto with additional training at Primus Theatre and Manitoba Double Edge Theatre.  

Alex received his Talent Trust scholarship in 1996. (smile)

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Genius Child: Celebrating Portia White with Cecilia Concerts

Cecilia Concerts presents:
Genius Child: Portia White at Town Hall

Saturday, 
November 9
7:30 p.m. 
St. George's Round Church
2222 Brunswick Street in Halifax

In 1944, Truro born contralto Portia White performed her New York City debut at Town Hall, a concert venue with a distinguished history of presenting early twentieth-century African American performers, including soprano Marian Anderson, bass-baritone Paul Robeson, and jazz singer Billie Holiday.

Efforts to support her in this career milestone transformed into the NS Talent Trust in 1944. During the last 75 years we were able to support over 1,000 aspiring Nova Scotian artists to pursue arts training to become professional artists.

This special presentation recreates White's historic NYC concert featuring works by Scarlatti, Schubert, and Brahms as well as spirituals and text by African American poet Langston Hughes. The Grammy Award-winning soprano Harolyn Blackwell is accompanied by prize-winning pianist Daniel Zelibor.

Cecilia Concerts presents this concert in partnership with the Nova Scotia Talent Trust with assistance from the Halifax Ladies' Musical Club and Arts Nova Scotia.

Ariella Pahlke Receives the Established Artist Recognition Award

Congratulations to past scholarship recipient, Ariella Pahlke for being awarded the 2019 Established Artist Recognition Award by Arts Nova Scotia and the Creative Nova Scotia Leadership Council. Pahlke will receive her award, along with the other winners, during the 14th Creative Nova Scotia Awards Gala. 

from Conviction doc site

Saturday, November 2, 2019
7:30 - 11 p.m.
Halifax Central Library
5440 Spring Garden

Free and open to the public.
Tickets through Eventbrite
starting on Oct 18

In her own words, Ariella says, "I’ve collaborated with groups, institutions, and individuals on various forms of media art and documentary projects for 25 years, challenging the status quo through art and community activism."

As described in the Women and Hollywood site, Ariella Pahlke is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and media artist with extensive experience facilitating collaborative projects. For the past 20 years, she’s directed, written and produced hour-long documentaries, shorts and media projects that have screened around the world. Her credits include Charlie’s Prospect, Rock and Desire, Burning Rubber, and Strategies of Hope.

The Creative Nova Scotia Awards Gala is presented by Arts Nova Scotia and the Creative Nova Scotia Leadership Council, the Creative Nova Scotia Awards Gala is an annual event that celebrates excellence in artistic achievement, notably in the announcements of two major awards, the Portia White Prize and the Lieutenant Governor's Masterworks Award. Winners of the Prix Grand Pré, the Established Artist, Emerging Artist and Indigenous Artist awards and the Community Arts and Culture Recognition Award are also honoured. Collectively, the awards are worth $95,000.

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Light in the Forest Sells Out in Advance

Congratulations to Holly Carr, alumni Jennifer King and Veronique Mackenzie for their early success, selling out in advance for Light in the Forest a production by Holly Carr.

image of Veronique from https://www.dal.ca/news/2009/12/07/choreographer.html

November 2 at 7 p.m.
St Matthew's United Church
1479 Barrington Street
Sold Out!

Stay tuned for news about the spring show in Wolfville. 

As described on the Light in the Forest website, "the production is an original and unique, all ages, multi-faceted theatrical experience that takes the audience on a journey from the dark foreboding forest with all of its inhabitants and brings them slowly into the light through a series of mysterious and beautiful reveals. 

Jennifer King will play a haunting repertoire on the piano while the moving choreography of Veronique Mackenzie and the Light in the Forest dancers escort the audience. Holly Carr paints live bringing the creatures of the forest to life. There will be original costumes a soundscape of the natural world and larger than life hand painted silk panels and sculptures. The audience is presented with veiled apparitions through layers of silk-and dramatic lighting transitioning from the dark unknown into a world of beauty and tranquility. A layered illustrated environment, like that of a story book is ultimately revealed. The underpinning of the production is understanding, confronting and overcoming your fears."
Artist Bios

Nova Scotia’s Jennifer King is a versatile pianist who is at home as a soloist or collaborator. She has established herself as a sought-after performer and recording artist in the region. Jennifer’s recording, O Mistress Moon, was nominated for both the ECMA and Music Nova Scotia Classical Album of the Year for 2019. Her second recording, Doolittle: Minute Études “Excerpts” (Live) was released in August of 2019 and a new video is now available on You Tube. Jennifer has a Master of Music in performance from McGill and post-graduate diplomas from University of Reading and Royal Academy of Music in London. She has received numerous prestigious awards including scholarships from the Nova Scotia’s Talent Trust.

Véronique Mackenzie has presented her work across the country in a variety of festivals and productions including Toronto’s Junction Festival, The Edmonton Fringe Festival, Labrador Arts Festival and Festival Antigonish. Her status as an independent dancer has allowed her to dance for a variety of contemporary dance productions as well as develop a successful choreographic and solo performance career. Véronique most recently completed choreography for POP TV's "Let's Get Physical" (L.A.) and has worked on CBC's Mr. D, Bo on the Go, and Street Cents. Véronique has served on faculty at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (NSCAD University), Neptune Theatre School, The Fountain School of Performing Arts (Dalhousie University) and Halifax Dance. She’s been a board member of Dance Nova Scotia and Keep Good (Theatre) Company. She is the Atlantic rep for the Dancer Transition Resource Centre out of Toronto. 

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