By Suzanne Riverin
The Huntsville Festival of the Arts Scholarship Award was introduced in 1997 to foster the development of the amazing performing arts talent in our community. In 2012, in recognition of the increasing costs of post-secondary education, the Festival decided to direct its scholarship funds to senior graduating students. HFA also assumed responsibility for a Visual Arts scholarship formerly awarded through other sources. This year the Scholarship Awards totalled $5,000 supporting five incredibly talented students. Our Performing Arts awards went to Elizabeth Robinson, Hannah Murphy, Jay Van Horne, and Jazzmine Van Veld, while our Visual Art award went to Naomi Banks.
We were thrilled to discover that all of them are thriving in their respective choices and venues of study when we caught up with the recipients over the holiday season at Hunters Bay Radio. John A Macdonald interviewed them live on “Talent on the Bay” and they entertained the listeners with their respective talents and articulate reflections on their artistic journeys. It was a magical event.
Here are some of their comments:
Hannah Murphy, who is at Algoma University in Sault Ste. Marie, reported that her music courses are amazing, that she is growing vocally, that she has joined a choir, and has even won a talent contest. She is also planning on taking an exam through Conservatory Canada in the spring. “Thank you so much to the HFA for their support, because without you this would not be possible!”
Jazzmine Van Veld is working on a Bachelor of Music at Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, and she reported that her program is good, that she is learning a lot about technique as well as theory, and improving a great deal. She plans on pursuing her studies and completing a doctorate in the area of music.
Jay Van Horne is pursuing Music Performance at Cambrian College in Sudbury and suggested that her program is incredible. “It’s really cool to be surrounded by so many people who share the same love, music, with me; a whole other world.”
Lizzie Robinson is furthering her education in Musical Theatre at St. Lawrence College, Brockville. She told us that she loves the program and that she is learning a great deal from incredible professors. “I am doing what I love 10 hours a day. Such long hours but so worth it! The support from the HFA is so appreciated and I wouldn’t be where I am without it.”
Naomi Banks is in London at Western University pursuing a Visual Arts degree. She is enjoying her year and is working hard: “The art program here is great, the building itself is awesome, it has an industrial feel which I adore.”
The Huntsville Festival of the Arts is proud to support these very gifted individuals and encourages senior students to apply for scholarships in the spring.
Application forms will be available beginning April 1 at the High School Guidance Department or the Huntsville High Music Department and need to be submitted to the HFA office before May 20. Applicants must reside in the Huntsville/Lake of Bays area and may also be required to perform a live audition. For more details please visit http://huntsvillefestival.on.ca/pub/scholarship-program.html.
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