When schools return this September, eight local students will be better prepared to pursue their artistic passions thanks to the support of Huntsville Festival of the Arts through their annual scholarship program.
The program aims to support young people who are studying, or plan to further their studies in the performing arts (music, theatre, dance), or technical skills studies (ie stage management, lighting or sound design), and to foster the development of performing arts talent in our community.
HfA offered both a Junior (16 & under) & Senior (17 & older) Performing Arts Scholarship. The 2024 Scholarship Awards Program was generously supported in memory of Jane Hutcheson, a champion of the arts in Huntsville, and the lead supporter of HfA’s Educational Programs. Since 1997 a total of $73,000 has been awarded to 60 Senior candidates, $15,500 to 38 junior/intermediate candidates over the same period.
This year’s applicants were evaluated by a committee with the approval from the Huntsville Festival of the Arts through an audition and interview on March 25th at Trinity United Church.
This year’s Senior scholarship recipients are
- Blake Quinlan (technical studies) who will use their funds towards their post-secondary tuition.
- Bridget Johnson (violin) who will be using the funds towards her ongoing musical training in Huntsville.
- Juniper Nuedling-Black (piano) who will be using the support towards her continued musical training
- Kara McClung (Piano, Vocal) who will be using the support towards her continued musical training
- Thomas Flynn (Acting for Theatre & Film) who will use the funds towards private acting lessons
- Xee Busse (Saxophone) who will use the funds to subsidize the purchase of a new instrument.
The Junior Scholarship recipients are
- Chloe Hawes (dance) who will put her funds towards her continued dance training at Muskoka Dance Academy
- Isaac Leonard (guitar) who will use the funds to subsidize the purchase of his dream guitar
- Malcolm Fairhall (saxophone) who will be using the support towards her continued musical training
- Ryleigh Lay (dance) who will put her funds towards her continued dance training at Muskoka Dance Academy
- Scarlett Fisher (piano) who will be furthering her musical development with Sarah Spring
“We believe that it is our responsibility to support and reinvest in the community through expanded outreach, educational programming and the scholarship programs”, indicated Dan Watson, Executive Director of Huntsville Festival of the Arts. “We have incredibly talented young people in this region and we are honored to assist them as they develop their skills even further”, noted Watson.
For more information about the scholarship program or the full line-up of performances this season, please visit www.huntsvillefestival.ca
Huntsville Festival of the Arts is a registered charitable, not-for-profit organization with a goal to further develop the community’s appreciation of the arts by providing an eclectic mix of performances and exhibitions presented in a variety of venues throughout the area and involving performers of local, national, and international stature.
