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The Score – Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts Association Update – February 2016 1
The Score
Sheila Piercey as Adele in the COC's 1964 production of Die Fledermaus
Image by Ed MacDormand
MCPA Association Update February 2016
New MCPA Association Sheila Piercey Awards: Through the generosity of long-‐time Association member Sheila Piercey, a new set of student awards has been made available to MCPA voice students. Aware of the added costs to students and parents of hiring accompanists for vocal performances, Sheila has created the MCPA Association Sheila K. Piercey Collaborative Pianist Awards. Each year, up to six voice students who audition for one of the Conservatory’s competitive music scholarships are eligible to have the costs of hiring an accompanist covered. These awards will be available for this year’s auditions.
One of Canada’s preeminent operatic sopranos, Sheila’s first vocal coaches were her mother Lilian Piercey and Leonard Mayoh, who at the time was head of the Conservatory’s Voice Department. She continued her studies with Dr. Ernesto Vinci at the Royal Conservatory of Music and the University of Toronto Opera School. Joining the Canadian Opera Company in 1957, Sheila became one of its most versatile and best loved stars, performing 22 different roles in 16 COC tours. Having “a natural vivacity” and “a clear, flexible, rich voice”, she was “outstanding in comedy and soubrette roles.” On retirement, Sheila returned to Halifax where she has been an avid supporter of the performing arts in Nova Scotia. She is especially passionate about helping talented young people realize their full potential.
The Association values Sheila Piercey as a member and friend, and we would like to
thank her for her generosity in making it possible to add these new awards to those the Association already makes available to MCPA students.
The Score – Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts Association Update – February 2016 2
Dr. Jennifer Farrell
Change of Dean of Music at the Conservatory: After a highly successful term as the inaugural Dean of Music at the Maritime Conservatory of Music, Cheryl McCarthy has stepped down. The Association would like to congratulate Cheryl on her many successes as Dean of Music: a job well done. She is much admired for her charm, her dedication, and her hard work on behalf of MCPA. “It has been a great privilege to serve the School of Music as Dean,” Cheryl notes, “a role that was initiated by Janet Hull five years ago and has evolved in response to needs as they arose. The Conservatory is such an important part of both past and future history of music education in Nova Scotia. The love and dedication to music of both teachers and students is always heartwarming and inspiring and promises a continued bright future for the school. With Dean Jennifer Farrell leading us into the next phase of growth, I am happy to focus entirely on my voice and piano students who are, after all, the reason we all work to make the Conservatory the best it can be. Many thanks to all who have shown such support, encouragement, and patience to me through the “dean” years – sometimes easy, sometimes challenging – always worthwhile.”
We are delighted that Dr. Jennifer Farrell, a member of the MCPA Voice Department, has been appointed as Cheryl’s successor as Dean of Music. Jennifer began her advanced studies in music at Wilfred Laurier University, continuing at the University of British Columbia where she was awarded both masters and doctoral degrees. A highly accomplished singer with a beautiful soprano voice, Jennifer performs regularly in the fields of early music, opera, oratorio, and art song. She has appeared from coast to coast with Canadian ensembles such as the Vanncouver Symphony and Pacific Baroque Orchestra, and Symphony Nova Scotia and Opera Nova Scotia. Dr. Farrell
has also toured western Canada with the National Youth Orchestra of Canada and Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet, and eastern Canada with Jeunesses Musicales du Canada. Dr. Farrell is equally active as an adjudicator, examiner, lecturer, and choral clinician.
Jennifer notes that the “Conservatory has been part of my life, and dear to my heart, for as long as I can remember. I studied piano and music theory here as a child, and it is such a thrill to return now to support our wonderful students and teachers as their Dean of Music. In collaboration with the MCPA Association and my colleagues in the Schools of Music, Dance, and Kindermusik, I hope to help maintain the high level of excellence in programming and community outreach that already exists, while increasing public recognition of the MCPA as a first class performing arts centre in Canada.”
We are delighted to welcome Dr. Farrell to her new position as Dean of Music and look forward to working closely with her. Like Cheryl, Jennifer is an active member of the MCPA Association.
Cheryl McCarthy
The Score – Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts Association Update – February 2016 3
New Appointment for Mayann Francis: The Honourable Dr. Mayann Francis, OSE, has been attending the Association Dinners for some time, and we were delighted when she recently became an Association member.
We would like to extend our congratulations to Mayann for her recently announced appointment as the first Distinguished Public Service Fellow at Dalhousie’s School of Public Administration. To mark this appointment, Dr. Francis will deliver a lecture entitled A Very Public Journey: from Whitney Pier to Government House on March 1, at 7:30 pm, in Room 1011 of the Row Building, 6100 University Avenue. In the words of the university’s announcement of the appointment: “Through her many achievements—most notably as CEO of the NS Human Rights Commission, as an Assistant Deputy Minister in Ontario, and the
first Black Nova Scotian to be appointed to the highest office in the province, the vice regal position of Lieutenant Governor—Dr.
Francis has broken through cultural, racial and gender barriers to inspire and set the course for those destined to follow.”
We would also like to congratulate Dr. Francis on the recent publication of her first children’s book Mayann’s Train Ride. To quote publisher Nimbus Press’s description: “Nine-‐year-‐old Mayann Francis and her family are travelling from their home in Cape Breton to New York City by train. Everything is exciting to young Mayann, from the beds that fold down to the stop in Montreal to visit friends. Most exciting of all is the chance to show off her brand new purse. When the Francis family arrives in big, bustling New York City, Mayann visits with relatives, goes to the zoo, and rides the subway. She even receives a beautiful black doll, something she has never seen before. But one subway ride, she loses her beautiful purse. At first she’s heartbroken, but she just might learn a lesson that makes the whole trip worthwhile.” Mayann’s Train Ride has been receiving excellent reviews and is widely available.
MCPA Honouree Prize: Last year the MCPA Association created a new student award in recognition of the individual(s) honoured during the year by being named Honourary Life Members of the Associations. This year’s Honouree, who was recognized at the autumn Dinner, is Marie Himmelman Smyth. The award, to be presented at this June’s Convocation, will be called the MCPA Association Honouree Marie Himmelman Smyth Prize. Marie graduated from the Conservatory, after studying piano with Harry Dean, theory with Rita Morton, and voice with Mary Dee Gerrior. She has been a member of the Association continuously from the time she graduated from the Conservatory, where she also taught piano and theory until retirement.
The Honourable Dr. Mayann Francis, OSE
The Score – Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts Association Update – February 2016 4
MCPA French Café: Last year Barbara Dearborn, the Dean of Dance, suggested to her colleagues on the Association Board that we organize a gala event for the winners of all the scholarships and prizes available to Conservatory Students. There are now, by the way, more than 80 awards presented at Convocation to the Conservatory’s more than 1200 students. These awards are contributed by a range of groups including MCPA itself, the Halifax Ladies Musical Club, Beta Sigma Phi, String Music Atlantic, Delta Master Chapter, various departments of the Conservatory, and a number of individuals and businesses. The MCPA Association now provides some two dozen of these awards, in addition to a number of bursaries to those in financial need.
Last year the student Gala took the form of a High Tea that was thoroughly enjoyed by the students, many of whom dressed for the occasion. This year the theme was a French Café, with suitable decorations provided by event organizers, Barbara Dearborn, Carolyn Bird, Jennifer O’Connor, and Frances Royle. The event was very well attended and the food prepared by Carolyn Bird was predictably
outstanding. The new Dean of Music Jennifer Farrell, accompanied by pianist Frances Royle, performed a number of French songs to great applause, accompanied in Jacques Offenbach’s Barcarolle by long-‐time Association member and Past President Joan Cunningham. Two talented guitarists also performed throughout the afternoon.
The MCPA Association Scholarship to be Renamed: The MCPA Association Board has decided to rename one of its oldest student awards. The MCPA Association Scholarship will now be called the MCPA Association Laing-‐Porter Founders Scholarship, in recognition of the central role these two individuals played in creating the Conservatory and putting it on a firm footing.
The Rev. Robert Laing was the founding President (1887-‐1919) of the Halifax Conservatory and its sister institution the Halifax Ladies’ College, while Charles Henry Porter was the Conservatory’s first Director (1887-‐1900).
A small portion of Carolyn Bird’s wonderful food
The Rev. Robert Laing
Trois étudiants de danse
The Score – Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts Association Update – February 2016 5
The Founding of the Association: A meeting was held on June 13, 1921 at the Conservatory of Music, then on Barrington Street, chaired by Conservatory Director Harry Dean.
Its purpose was to organize a Society of Graduates of the Halifax Conservatory of Music. The meeting was addressed by Dr. J.W. Falconer (a professor at what was then Pine Hill Divinity Hall), and it was moved by F.M. Guilford (a prominent businessman, owner of Guildford and Son’s Machinist Supplies) and seconded by Conservatory alumna Mrs. H.P. Bezanson that such a society be formed. Elsie Taylor, a member of the Piano Department, was on the planning
committee; on her death in the 1940s— after a fifty year connection with the Conservatory—an endowed scholarship
was created in Miss Taylor’s name, and the MCPA Association Elsie Taylor Piano Scholarship has been awarded continuously for more than 70 years.
The first actual meeting of the new Alumni Society of the Halifax Conservatory of Music was held on January 3, 1922. Among the initial members were several whose names will still be familiar to some of our older member: Miss Vera Blois, Mrs. Annie DesBrisay, Miss K. Inglis, and Miss Elsie Taylor. With the Association Centennial only five years away, preliminary planning will begin soon of how we should celebrate this momentous occasion. If you have any suggestions, please pass them along to a member of the Association’s Board.
SAVE THE DATE: The MCPA Association’s Spring Dinner will be held this year on Sunday, June 19th and, in a change of location, the dinner will be held at the Stadacona Wardroom Officer’s Mess. Further information will be provided closer to the event but, in the meantime, please reserve the date!
The Scotia Room The Dining Room
The Halifax Conservatory and Ladies’ College, circa 1900
The Score – Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts Association Update – February 2016 6
The MCPA Association’s Statement of Purpose: The MCPA Association is a group of friends of the Conservatory including alumni, teachers, parents, and those who appreciate the importance of the Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts in the cultural life of Halifax and Nova Scotia. Since 1921 the Association has organized events to promote and support the Conservatory and its programmes. From the beginning one focus has been on recognizing student excellence and providing financial assistance to students through prizes, scholarships, and bursaries. Each year we also select other projects such as assisting in the purchase or repair of a piano or the acquisition of new equipment. Another aim of the Association is to maintain a social connection with MCPA friends. We organize or participate in a variety of events during the year such as the spring and autumn dinners and the donor appreciation evening, occasions at which Conservatory students will often perform. Membership in the MCPA Association is a wonderful opportunity to donate time and energy with like-‐minded friends for the benefit of students. New members of the Association are always welcome.
A Grace Note from the President: This year the MCPA Association Board is making a special effort to keep in touch with you, our friends and supporters. From time to time we will be sending members an update such as this on the activities of the Association, letting you know about the varying ways in which we, as an organization, are striving to achieve our purpose of promoting and supporting the Conservatory. We’ll also pass along stories
about the successes of some of our members. We hope that you enjoy this issue of The Score.
MCPA Association Board of Directors
Dr. Gary Brooks, President Chantal Williams, Vice-‐President Joan Cunningham, Past President Vaila Mowat, Recording Secretary
Carol von Syberg, Corresponding Secretary Angus Campbell, Treasurer
Michelle LeClaire, Membership Coordinator
Carolyn Bird Margaretta Brown
Bill Chaddock Daryl Chaddock
June Cook Barbara Dearborn Edie Hancock
Mary Ann Mercer Patricia Walsh MacNeil
Frances Royle Wayne Thompson