Bard to Broadway (B2B) was pleased to honour both the recipient of their Performing Arts Scholarship for 2021, as well as this year’s recipient of the Gary Brown Award. Both recipients were recognized during a recent ceremony at B2B’s Shelly Road facility in Parksville.
The B2B Performing Arts Scholarship is awarded to a young adult who is actively pursuing further education or training in the performing arts. The recipient of this year’s scholarship was Jessica Kelly.
Kelly graduated from Ballenas Secondary in June and has begun training at Capilano University in North Vancouver in their Musical Theatre program. Over the years, she has participated in a number of Teen Musical Theatre productions with B2B, including Beauty and the Beast and Willy Wonka Jr. She then made her mainstage debut in The Servant of Two Masters, followed by her performance this past summer in Forbidden Broadway.
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The Gary Brown Award is presented annually to longtime members who have made unselfish commitments of time, energy and expertise in a variety of capacities.
The recipient of this year’s award, Jay Norton, has spent more than 40 years involved in theatre and performing arts, with a great many of those years in the community of Qualicum Beach.
Norton is both a life member of ECHO Players and Theatre BC, and has won multiple awards for his talents both on and off the stage.
Over the years, he has directed seven shows for B2B, performed in three and has spent approximately 11 years assisting with the society’s governance on the board of directors as treasurer, director at large, and president.
Norton was recognized not only for his contributions to B2B, but to the broader Parksville Qualicum Beach community that has benefited from his commitment, dedication, passion and expertise.
– NEWS Staff, submitted