The Chronicle Herald (Provincial)
N.S. Talent Trust honours local artists
Dozens of the province’s gifted artists and creators were recognized with special awards and scholarships by the Nova Scotia Talent Trust this week.
Created 76 years ago in support of world-famous contralto Portia White, the Talent Trust announced their ongoing contributions toward the educations and careers of Nova Scotia artists in a virtual ceremony on Sunday. In total, $44,000 was granted to support their ongoing pursuits in a variety of disciplines.
Recipients included Halifax dancer Sahara Nyathi, studying ballet at the Maritime Dance Academy, presented with this year’s $1,500 Talent Trust Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Artistic Achievement, and the two recipients of the 2011 Canada Games
Young Artist of Excellence Awards — valued at $10,000 each — Dartmouth flutist Amelia Bruce and Falmouth writer Amanda Peters.
There were also two new awards presented during the ceremony, the $2,000 Shelia K. Piercey (Legacy) Award for voice students and the $8,000 Dr. James Burchill Award for an organist, choral or instrumental conductor.
The former was presented to Prospect Bay opera singer Laura Johnston, currently studying voice at Memorial University in St. John’s, N.L., while Wolfville pianist Carmen Peng is the recipient of the latter.
In addition to the awards, there were also 67 Nova Scotia Talent Trust and Nova Scotia Arts Endowment Fund scholarship recipients in dance, circus arts, literary arts, music, theatre and visual arts.