Sonovia "Novie" Pierre is one of the many Lyford Cay Scholars who was able to jumpstart her career in the arts with the support of a Harry C. Moore Memorial Scholarship In The Arts. The Lyford Cay Foundation continues to pave the way for young Bahamian artists wanting to pursue higher education through the arts with the offering of a scholarship valued at $15,000 per year for study in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and the Caribbean.
Examples of the fields of study that will be considered for the scholarship include visual art; graphic art; fashion; industrial and interior design; performing arts; playwriting; fiction-writing; poetry; photography; and arts education.
Applicants must be Bahamian citizens who have completed or are in the final semester of pursuing an associate degree in art at the University of The Bahamas (UB), or students who have a bachelor's degree from any university and are pursuing graduate studies internationally.
All applications must be completed and submitted online at www.lyfordcayfoundation.org. The deadline for stage one of the application is March 15 at 5 p.m.
Pierre, an A.F. Adderley High School graduate, obtained an associate's degree in music at the University of The Bahamas. Subsequently, with the aid of a Lyford Cay Foundation scholarship, she attended Florida Atlantic University and received a bachelor's degree in music education and a teacher certification. Later in her career Pierre applied for the Harry C. Moore Memorial Scholarship and was able to obtain a master's in music education from Vandercook School of Music in Chicago.
Pierre says being awarded the scholarship changed her life.
"Just being chosen as a Harry C. Moore Scholar made me look at myself differently. I was expected to be a top achiever and a top thinker. I worked hard because many persons counted on me and had faith that I could make an impact through music. It hasn't been an easy life, but it's been challenging and enjoyable," she said.
Currently, Pierre is involved professionally in music and music education in a number of ways. The former Ministry of Education, Science and Technology music teacher, now works as a senior cultural affairs officer with the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, where her responsibilities include overseeing music and the E. Clement Bethel National Arts Festival.
Pierre also sang with the popular group Visage for 21 years and now sings with Tingum Dem Band.
Pierre believes in giving back by creating opportunities for others just as she received opportunities. She serves as a mentor with Our Carmichael, an organization developed to empower the residents of the Carmichael community, and has also volunteered on the Harry C. Moore Scholarship screening committee.
"I'm grateful for the generosity of the foundations' donors," said Pierre of the Harry C. Moore Memorial Scholarship. "I would like to think in my small way I've given a bit of myself to my students because of what has been given to me."
In 2016 Aidan Barrow was awarded the Harry C. Moore Memorial Scholarship to pursue a masters in metalsmithing and jewelry design at Savannah College of Art and Design.
Other Harry C. Moore Scholarship recipients include Averia Wright, Ohio University, 2018, sculptor; Thea Rutherford, Simon Fraser University, 2016, teacher; Jeffrey Meris, Temple University, 2015, visual artist; Gregory Curry, Berklee College of Music, 2012, musician; Dion Cunningham, Vandercook College of Music, 2011, Ph.D. candidate; Nathan Lightbourne, Vandercook College of Music, 2012, teacher and pianist; Sonovia Pierre, Vandercook College of Music, 2009, senior cultural affairs officer, Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture; Amielle Major, Vassar College, 2011, writer; Heino Schmid, Utrecht School of Art & Design, 2005, visual artist and lecturer at University of The Bahamas; and Tavares Strachan, Yale University, 2005, visual artist.
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