The BMDS Charitable Trust
The BMDS Charitable Trust was officially formed on July 10, 2001 and cites its main objectives as the promotion and development of the theatrical arts with particular emphasis on those artists having an association with Bermuda. This may be in the form of scholarships or bursaries, or through drama, music and dance workshops.
The idea of forming the Trust was derived from very tragic circumstances. Kate Huntington, an active member of the Bermuda Musical and Dramatic Society, was killed in a motorcycle accident in India in August, 2000. She was only 28 years old but was active in youth drama workshops at BMDS during her teens, had studied drama at university in Canada, and had already held principal roles in several BMDS productions. Kate had returned to Bermuda after extensive world travel to save enough money for her long-awaited return to India, and renewed her passion for the theatre during that time. At the request of Kate’s family, all funds donated on behalf of Kate will be used specifically to promote theatre amongst Bermuda’s youth.
Since its inception in 2001, the Trust has made distributions in the form of bursaries to university students pursuing degrees in the performing and related arts, to the Bermuda School of Music Bursary Programme, donations back to BMDS for equipment and workshops, and other distributions to promote music and theatre in Bermuda totaling nearly $500,000.00!
Applications for Bursaries can made through www.bermudascholarships.com commencing in spring of each year.
Check out the BMDS Charitable Trust Documentary
The BMDS Charitable Trust has commissioned a documentary about the Trust, which was created by the very talented Jessica Bucher, a young Bermudian who is pursuing her passions and currently double-majoring in Strategic Communication and Studio & Digital Arts: Graphic Design. This documentary will be distributed to create awareness of the Trust for the purposes of fundraising and bursary submissions.
Donations can be sent to
The BMDS Charitable Trust, PO Box DV 631, Devonshire DV BX
Past bursary recipients:
| 2003 | Tyler Barker |
| 2004 | Katrina Kawaley-Lathan |
| 2005 | James Birch, Kerri-Lynne Dietz, Kendia Gill |
| 2006 | Kerri-Lynne Dietz, Zawditu Maryam, Madison Mello |
| 2007 | Matthew Bento, Jelani Douglas, Zawditu Maryam, Tamicka Johnson |
| 2008 | Kerri-Lynne Dietz, Tamicka Johnson, Roy Richardson |
| 2009 | Winton Brangman, Alex Cabral, Paige Hallett, Roy Richardson, Matthew Ross |
| 2010 | Christopher Frith, Paige Hallett, David Pitman, Matthew Ross |
| 2011 | Christopher Frith, Shana Parker, Malachi Simmons, Yesha Townsend |
| 2012 | Hannah Dill, Julian Johnson, Malachi Simmons, Victoria Watlington |
| 2013 | Hayley Cann, Kristen Darrell, Shareef Hinds, Malachi Simmons |
| 2014 | Jadiyah Bailey, Eryn Beach, Arielle DeSilva, Fredrika Hill, Marcus Smith |
| 2015 | Eryn Beach, Kioshi Burgess, Shareef Hinds, Riley Mello, Julia Frith Quinn, Marcus Smith |
| 2016 | Jadiyah Bailey, Eryn Beach, Kioshi Burgess, Julia Frith Quinn, Treasure Tannock |
| 2017 | Kioshi Burgess, Ryan Day, Shanna Henry, Shona Maule, Ebonae Pringle |
| 2018 | Ryan Day, Mikaela Kawaley-Lathan, Shona Maule, Alexis Smith, Natacha Kneeland-Lloyd (Grant) |
| 2019 | Jadiyah Bailey, Ryan Day, Angelis Hunt, Lauren Mendes, Leslie Tucker |
| 2020 | Nathan Fagundo, Angelis Hunt, Waverley Moran, Leslie Tucker |
| 2021 | Zayla Bolin, Skye Minors, John Seymour, Jesaiah Talbot |
| 2022 | Onuri Smith, Olivia Taylor, T'aja Williams |
| 2023 | Honor Minors |
| 2024 | Gianna Lupparelli Nash, Honor Minors, Ava Moreno, Johnae Tucker, Naysaa Tucker |