Young Nova Scotian Artists Featured

Young Nova Scotian artists will take the spotlight in A Splendid Torch, a Nova Scotia Youth Arts showcase at an international education conference in late November. A public performance will follow at the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium on Nov. 30, 2000.

The show is a milestone for young performers in Nova Scotia. Through presentations featuring vocal and instrumental music, dance, theatre, visual arts and literary arts, the project will bring together more than 180 performers from across the province.

Groups involved with the project include: the Nova Scotia Youth Orchestra, Halifax Dance Young Company, the Neptune Theatre School's Youth Performance Company, the Nova Scotia Youth Choir Alumni, the Kumba African Percussion Ensemble, La Baie en Joie, Eastern Eagle Drum and Dance Group, Nathan LeLièvre and Marc Boudreau.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many of these young performers to share their talents and skills with their peers and an international audience," said Rodney MacDonald, Minister responsible for the Youth Secretariat. "Many people have contributed to this exciting performance and we look forward to the event."

A Splendid Torch, organized by the Nova Scotia Youth Secretariat, is the gala event for the 14th Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers to be held in Halifax this month. There will be a public performance on Thursday, Nov. 30, at 8:00 p.m., at the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium in Halifax. Tickets are $16 and go on sale tomorrow at the Dalhousie Arts Centre box office. at 902- 494-3820 or 1-800-874-1669.

The Nova Scotia Youth Secretariat and the Nova Scotia Department of Tourism and Culture have been working with several community- based arts organizations on the development of the youth arts performance. With the guidance of adult mentors from various artistic disciplines and an artistic director, a group of six youth leaders has been shaping this unique production for close to a year.

"A Splendid Torch is being created and performed by talented young artists, but its appeal will cross a wide range of all age groups," said Rick Gilbert, Executive Director with the Youth Secretariat. "It will provide a very high quality of entertainment and a compelling message about the important role played by youth in building vibrant communities."

The Nova Scotia Youth Arts Showcase has also led to an exciting, new web-based initiative being developed and facilitated in partnership with CBC Halifax and the Applied Arts Division of the Nova Scotia Community College. The new website will provide all young Nova Scotian artists with an opportunity to place their works on the web, and it will document the development of A Splendid Torch from rehearsals through to presentation. More information will be available on the website in the coming weeks.