Theatre student awarded developing artist grant

Concordia theatre performance student Sarah Marchand is one of eight emerging performing artists chosen to receive a $10,000 developing artist grant from the Hnatyshyn Foundation.

After reviewing Marchand's performance submissions, one jury member said, "Without question or doubt about this artist, I would highly endorse all support to secure her spot as a professional actress. She is full of risk and danger and her choice of material is far left of safe and centre. The variety is refreshing and her artist's statement is breathtaking."

In submitting the nomination for the Hnatyshyn Foundation grant, associate professor of theatre Ursula Neuerburg-Denzer wrote, "I first met Sarah in April of 2010 at the entry auditions to the Theatre Performance (acting) program. Since then I had opportunity to see Sarah's progress from a somewhat shy, but determined beginner to a much matured, confident and strong performer. She was my student during her first year of training and I very much enjoyed her curiosity and commitment. In the shows I have seen her perform, she has played both highly physical as well as psychologically and language-based dramatic parts. In addition to her continuously growing ability as a performer, Sarah has also taken on an additional major in English. From what I know of her, acting and performance training is only rivaled by reading in Sarah's life. I consider Sarah to be a highly engaged and dedicated theatre practitioner well deserving of a prestigious award."

The grant winners were adjudicated anonymously by expert juries from among applicants nominated by educational and training institutions across Canada.

Marchand will begin her final year of studies in the fall of 2013.

The Hnatyshyn Foundation, a private charity established by the late Right Honourable Ramon John Hnatyshyn, Canada's twenty-fourth Governor General, began awarding grants in 2005. Each year the Developing Artists Grants program provides eight $10,000 scholarships to exceptional young Canadians in post-secondary performing arts training programs.