Bursary created by bluesman
Truro musician Charlie A’Court announces assistance for music students
It’s just all about giving back. Twenty years after Charlie A’Court stepped away from the halls of Cobequid Educational Centre to climb the world stage as a blues musician, he is fulfilling a “long-time aspiration” by establishing a bursary to support Nova Scotia high school graduates who plan to study music at a post-secondary level.
“I’ve always tried to parlay my opportunities into something that was bigger than myself,” he said.
“I look at some of the projects that I’ve been a part of over the years and the impact that they’ve made. So I kind of look at it as that next-level endeavour for me in terms of giving back to the community.”
Beginning in June, the Charlie A’Court Scholarship for Excellence in Music will award a $500 bursary to a CEC graduate who has been accepted into a post-secondary institution, specifically to continue his/her music education.
In subsequent years, interested Grade 12 music students from across the province can apply for the bursary and a committee will select a recipient.
“I’m really excited by the whole prospect of it and … and seeing the talent that is out there,” he said.
The scholarship is designed to aid a student accepted into Nova Scotia-based institutions offering music courses, such as the Fountain School of Performing Arts at Dalhousie University or the Music Business Program at NSCC Waterfront Campus. Students accepted to institutions outside Nova Scotia, such as Humber College in Ontario or the Berklee College of Music in the United States would also be encouraged to apply.
A’Court, 38, is a five-time East Coast Music Award winner and eight-time Music Nova Scotia Award winner who grew up in McCallum Settlement and graduated from CEC 20 years ago.
“So I wanted to mark the inaugural year as a show of gratitude to CEC,” he said.
He is currently involved with writing new material as well as collaborating with other artists.
In May, A’Court is scheduled for a return visit to Australia for a three-week tour before coming home to perform at the Smokin’ Blues Fest in Windsor in July. From there he is to perform in P.E.I. in August prior to heading to western Canada for a fall tour.