Saturday, November 21, 2015

Erin Sparks to perform at the Portia White Gala Concert on November 27 in Halifax

We hope you join us for the 

Portia White Gala Concert

with Special Guest performance by Erin Sparks, mezzo-soprano

Friday, November 27, 2015

7: 30 p.m. at Faith Tabernacle 

6225 Summit Street, Halifax

Tickets are $15 for all.
Use our Eventbrite online ticketing service: http://tiny.cc/Portia2015 
 or printed tickets can be obtained from chorale and band members, or reserved
through the Medical Humanities office at (902) 494-1533 or at medhuman(at)dal.ca.

Erin Sparks, mezzo-soprano, NSTT Portia White Award winner 2003, 2004 and 2005Nova Scotian mezzo-soprano Erin Sparks received her Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Toronto where she studied under the tutelage of Dr. Darryl Edwards. 

Prior to her masters, Erin completed an Artist Diploma at the University of Toronto and received a Bachelor of Music from Dalhousie University. Erin has been the recipient of various awards such as the Portia White Award in 2003, 2004 and 2005 from the Nova Scotia Talent Trust as well as many other scholarships from both Dalhousie University and the University of Toronto. 

Enjoying a varied career of recitals, oratorio and opera, a recent highlight includes performing the role of Idamante in Mozart’s Idomeneo with Opera Nova Scotia. 
Also an established arts administrator, Erin has worked for numerous arts organizations in Canada. In 2008 she was hired as an Artist Representative with Andew Kwan Artists Management Inc. In Toronto, ON and in 2011, received the award of Emerging Agent of the Year from the Ontario Contact organization. 

Having returned to Nova Scotia, Erin was delighted to join Debut Atlantic as their Program Officer and continue her work in the field of classical music.
The Portia White Gala concert will feature the Dalhousie Health Professions Choral and Ensembles and the Sackville Concert Band. The evening’s entertainment promises a wide variety of repertoire including some seasonal favorites.
Proceeds of this concert go to support a young Nova Scotian musician through the Nova Scotia Talent Trust. The NSTT was started in 1944 to assist the career of Portia White and has continued in its support of talented Nova Scotian artists in their formative years. The Dalhousie University Humanities-HEALS Program is pleased to be able to make a yearly contribution to this worthy cause.
We would like to thank Dr. Wendy Stewart, Ana Bela Sardinha, David Elliott, Bryan Crocker, Jim Forde, and Erin Sparks, the choir members, and the many volunteers that will make the concert yet another memorable event.

During the intermission you will be able to treat yourself again to Bill Chaddock's fine fudge in support of the NSTT's Programs. Portia White's family has donated 100 CDs of 'Portia White - First You Dream' to the NSTT. The CD is a compilation of three concerts featuring contralto Portia White. They can be purchased for $20 with all proceeds going towards the Portia White Award. Thank you Bill Chaddock, Chris White and the whole White family for your generous support.

Saturday, October 31, 2015

Suzanne Rigden, soprano home for Opera Nova Scotia Recital on Friday, November 6, 2015

Suzanne Rigden, one of the brightest new singing stars on the Canadian opera scene, will return to her native HRM to offer the Opera Nova Scotia Distinguished Artist Recital, 
Friday, November 6, 7:30 p.m., Lilian Piercey Concert Hall, Maritime Conservatory for the Performing Arts in Halifax.

The brilliant and vivacious young soprano will sing a program of lyric concert repertoire and virtuoso operatic solos. A special highlight will be Zerbinetta’s Aria from Richard Strauss’s Ariadne auf Naxos, perhaps the most challenging feat in opera. Her pianist will be Tara Scott.

Suzanne Rigden is a NSTT scholarship recipient and the winner of the 2007 NSTT Portia White Award

The Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts,     
6199 Chebucto Road, Halifax


Tickets available at the door or through Opera NS Office 902-425-8586
General Admission $35.00 (incl. HST and $10 tax receipt) Students $5.00

Friday, October 30, 2015

LaLa Lee plays Shostakovich with the Nova Scotia Youth Orchestra


LaLa Lee, piano will play Shostakovich with the Nova Scotia Youth Orchestra.

Saturday, November 21 at 7:30 p.m. at
the deCoste Centre in New Glasgow

Sunday, November 22 at 7:00 p.m. at
St. Matthew's Church, Halifax

For more information please go to: http://novascotiayouthorchestra.com/concerts/15-16/fall2015.html


Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Portia White one of the inductee to the Music Hall of Fame at Casino Nova Scotia

Portia White, contralto and Nova Scotia Talent Trust's first scholarship recipient in 1944 will be one of the five inductee into the Music Hall of Fame at Casino Nova Scotia.

Reeny Smith who won the NSTT Portia White Award in 2010 will be on stage at the Inductee Gala to pay tribute to Portia White as well as the other inductee which are Rita MacNeil, Anne Murray, John Allan Cameron, and Brookes Diamond Productions (Brookes and Fiona Diamond).
 
Inductee Gala at Casino Nova Scotia in Halifax
November 1, 2015 at 8:00 p.m.
Schooner Showroom

Tickets:Casino Nova Scotia Price:$50 (plus tax & service charge)

From Casino NS website:
The Music Hall of Fame will celebrate Atlantic Canadian musicians and industry leaders who have attained commercial success and continue to have a positive impact on the Atlantic Canadian music scene locally, nationally and internationally. The Music Hall of Fame will be a place where Nova Scotians, tourists, fans and history buffs can learn about the history of music from Atlantic Canada and the significance of our music and artists (past and present) on the world stage.

Credit to Casino Nova Scotia at http://www.casinonovascotia.com/event/music-hall-of-fame-inductee-gala/

http://www.casinonovascotia.com/event/music-hall-of-fame-inductee-gala/

Thursday, October 15, 2015

Katie Cochrane to play Sister Margaretta in "The Sound of Music"

Broadway Atlantic Theatre will present "The Sound of Music", as their inaugural performance at 
Katie Cochrane


The Spatz Theatre in Halifax
November 
12-14 & 20-22 

Under the direction of Nina Scott-Stoddart and featuring a talented and experienced troupe of Atlantic Canadian performers, musicians and technicians.

2015 scholarship recipient, Katie Cochrane will be playing the role of Sister Margaretta. 

For more information visit the Broadway Atlantic website:
http://www.broadwayatlantic.com/the-sound-of-music/ 

or the Broadway Atlantic Facebook page at:
https://www.facebook.com/broadwayatlantictheatre?fref=ts

Thursday, October 8, 2015

Jeff Joudrey and Halifax Camerata Singers to launch new CD 'A Time For All Things'


Congratulations to Artistic Director, Jeff Joudrey (former NSTT scholarship recipient) and the Halifax Camerata Singers to the launch of their new CD A Time For All Things  

October 15, 2015
at 6:30 pm

Paul O'Regan Hall

Halifax Central Library














Find out more at http://www.halifaxcamerata.org/content/

Thursday, October 1, 2015

Shandi Mitchell, filmmaker wins two Film Prices at the 2015 Lunenburg Doc Fest

Shandi Mitchell - Photo credit: Alan MacLeod
Shandi Mitchell's Tell Me won the Best Short Film and the Best Atlantic Short Film prices at the Lunenburg Doc Fest. Tell Me explores a daughter and father relationship. 

In the Lunenburg Doc Fest's press release Shandi states: The Lunenburg Doc Festival has been an exceptional experience of extraordinary people, remarkable stories, and a town with a heart as big as the sea that pulses with art, culture, and heritage. 

Congratulations Shandi!

You can find more about Shandi at http://www.shandimitchell.com/

and more about the Lunenburg Doc Fest
at http://www.lunenburgdocfest.com/

Do you want to hear about achievements and performances of our former and present scholarship recipients on a regular basis? Please consider to sign up for our NSTT newsletter at http://bit.ly/1ReiBBH