Michael George Harper
September 30, 1961 – January 16, 2023
Michael Harper grew up in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the third child of a CBC TV producer, and a petite French-Canadian mother. Through his extended family, school and the Theatre Arts Guild (located close to his childhood home), he was introduced to music, dance and theatre early in his life. He joined the Guild at age eleven, later becoming the youngest Stage Manager for the company at thirteen years of age.
During senior year at J.L. Ilsley High School, he played lead roles in three annual musicals; studied voice privately; and trained in dance at the Conservatory. This led to his acceptance at the Dalhousie University Music Department in 1980. In the same year, Michael was cast in his first professional show; Alan Lund’s revival of Meet the Navy. The show toured Nova Scotia for three summers, culminating in a command performance for Queen Elizabeth II in spring 1982 to celebrate the signing of the Canadian Constitution. With fellow cast mate, Kathryn MacLellan, he continued dance, competing nationally in Ballroom and Latin dance under the tutelage of Jane Edgett. In 1981, Michael chose a new career path, a Bachelors Degree in Public Relations at Mount Saint Vincent University, eventually joining the Public Relations team for Canadian Airlines and Air Canada. Throughout this period, his love for music and the stage continued. He sang in the Vancouver Mens Chorus from 1994 to 2013, serving as resident choreographer for eleven years. Through night school and other training, he also became an established hair and makeup artist for stage, media and special events. He also learned to play a tenor ukulele and often played and sang for friends and family.
Over his life, Michael resided in Halifax, Montreal, Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver, Pender Island, and Palm Springs. He thoroughly enjoyed attending all disciplines of live performance and was always eager for a detailed discussion on each production.
Charter for the Michael George Harper Bursaries
Purpose of the Michael George Harper Bursaries
The bursaries will provide assistance to young adults (12-20) who have exhibited a passionate interest and dedication to voice, dance and/or musical theatre and who, because of financial need, require multi-year funding support for training in these arts.
The Michael George Harper Bursaries embrace the principles of diversity and equality as enshrined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Every application for the Bursaries will be treated
with respect and careful consideration.
The Award
• Two bursaries will be awarded every other year: one for She/They and one for He/They.
• The financial support for each recipient will be for two years, with funding being provided annually.
• The amount of each bursary will be $3500 per year; adjustments to this amount may be required depending on the financial performance of the principal fund for the bursaries.
• Recipients of the bursaries are eligible to apply more than once.
• Funding from the bursaries will be administered through the Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts (the Conservatory). Funding can be used for training in class work or private coaching at the Conservatory, as well as the purchase of essential equipment. Training at an external organization or institution may be considered. There is no cash award directly to the recipient.
• The recipient must register and participate in training at the Conservatory three to five times per week throughout the year during each year of the award. They also must demonstrate a passionate and ongoing commitment to the training, and continued advancement in their chosen disciplines (as evaluated by their instructors).
Selection Criteria
The applicant must:
• Be between 12 to 20 years of age or less as of December 31 in the year of their submission.
• Demonstrate a committed drive and passionate desire to excel in voice, dance and/or musical theatre by training at he Conservatory three to five times per week throughout the year (e.g., September to June). A basic proficiency in these arts is preferred but not essential.
• Provide a written description for each of the following criteria (maximum of one type written page per criteria):
1. A demonstrated passion for voice, dance and/or musical theatre
2. A yearly plan setting out their goals and objectives in the chosen discipline(s)
3. A description of how the funding will assist in achieving their goals
4.Why the funding is required at this time
• Financial need must be supported by submission of CRA proof of net income for the year immediately preceding the year of the application. The net income of a single parent or guardian must be $40,000 CAD (Forty Thousand Canadian dollars) or less. The net income for two parents or guardians must be $80,000 CAD (Eighty Thousand Canadian dollars) or less.
Applicants must complete the Application Form for the Michael George Harper Bursaries. The applicant must identify if they want to be considered for She/They or the He/They category.
Timing of the Award
Applications for the Michael George Harper Bursaries are due by the close of business (5:00 PM Atlantic Daylight Savings Time) on April 28, 2023. The recipients will be determined before or on June 1, 2023. The successful recipients will be publicly announced at the June convocation for the Conservatory.
Applications for the bursaries will occur every two years thereafter (e.g, 2025, 2027, 2029).
Selection Committee
The Selection Committee will be made up of three individuals representing three different categories:
• A representative of the extended family of Michael Harper
• A representative of the broader artistic community in Halifax
• A representative of the Conservatory
The initial Selection Committee will be made up of Jeffrey Green (representing the extended family of Michael Harper), Kathryn MacLellan (representing the broader artistic community in Halifax), and a representative of the Conservatory.
All decisions by the Selection Committee under this Charter must honour and abide by the Purpose of the Michael George Harper bursaries as described above.
Within thirty (30) days of the start of the selection Committee, each member of the Selection Committee will identify a replacement for themselves in the event that they need to resign, are incapacitated, or die. The Selection Committee must agree by majority or unanimously on each of the replacement nominees.
When a replacement nominee becomes a member of the Selection Committee, a new replacement nominee for that category must be identified within thirty (30) days and agreed upon by the Selection Committee by majority or unanimously.
If a replacement nominee is no longer able to act as a replacement, the acting Selection Committee Member for that category will identify a new replacement nominee. This nominee must be agreed upon by the Selection Committee by majority or unanimously.
Selection of the Recipients
• Each Selection Committee Member will individually review all of the applications.
• Using the written descriptions for the first three criteria (see above), each Selection Committee Member will score each criteria from 0 (low) to 5 (high) (no fractions ). The total rank for the applicant will be the sum of the three scores. The total score for each applicant will be used to generate a total performance score resulting in a ranking of all applicants.
• The Selection Committee will then meet, by digital conferencing or in person, to review their scores and recommendations for each of the applicants.
• The final decision on the persons receiving the bursaries will be based on the performance scores, in combination with the need for financial aid. The successful candidate may have a lower score but a greater need of support.
• If there is only one suitable recipient, only one award will be made for that year. New applications for the remaining outstanding category of the second bursary will be accepted the following year.
• If there are no suitable candidates in either category, no awards will be made in that year. Applications for both categories of the bursary will be accepted the following year.
• All discussions of the Selection Committee pertaining to the applicants will remain confidential. The Selection Committee’s decisions are final.
Requirements for Recipients of the Bursaries
Successful recipients of the Michael George Harper Bursaries will train at the Conservatory three to five times per week throughout the year (e.g., September to June) or as outlined by the Maritime Conservatory and their instructor or coach.
Funding may be used for training at an external organization or institution if (1) the instructor or coach approves such training; and (2) the Selection Committee approves such training.
At the end of each of the two years of the bursaries, the recipients will:
• Provide a written description (minimum one to maximum two pages) or digital presentation (minimum two to maximum three minutes) outlining the recipient’s work and achievements during the previous year.
• At the end of the first full term of training (September to June), complete a goal setting plan for the second year. This will be in the form of a written description (minimum one to maximum two pages) or digital presentation (minimum two to maximum three minutes).
At the end of each year of study, the instructors and/or coaches of the recipient will provide a written description of the progress made. This can be either a written description (maximum one page) or digital presentation (minimum two to maximum three minutes).
Non-Performance Clause
If a recipient of the Michael George Harper Bursaries does not demonstrate a determined passion and advancement in their chosen art(s) throughout their training, the Selection Committee reserves the right to revoke funding for the current or second year of the bursary. The Selection Committee will consult with the instructor or coach for the recipient in making such a decision.
Amendment of the Charter for the Bursaries
The Selection Committee will annually review the Charter to determine if it is meeting the current needs of applicants. Any changes to the Charter must adhere to the Purpose of the Michael George Harper Bursaries as identified above.
Closure of the Conservatory and Transfer of the Bursary Funds
If the Conservatory closes or can no longer support the Michael George Harper Bursaries, all of the remaining funds in the Michael George Harper Bursaries Fund will be transferred to the Nova Scotia Talent Trust (PO Box 575, Halifax, NS, B3J 2R7; (902) 492-6801; scholarship@nstalenttrust.ns.ca).
If the Nova Scotia Talent Trust no longer exists, the Selection Committee will identify an independent organization whose mandate includes encouragement and support for voice, dance and/or musical theatre in Halifax, Nova Scotia and/or Atlantic Canada. Based on a majority or unanimous support by the three Selection committee Members, all remaining monies will be transferred to this organization. It is the desire of the founders of the Michael George Harper Bursaries Fund that the bursaries continue under the same name, rules, and criteria.