if ax , ▁Nova ▁Scot ia ▁that ▁offers ▁courses ▁in ▁higher ▁education ▁in ▁music , ▁dance , ▁and ▁theatre . ▁It ▁is ▁the ▁largest ▁and ▁the ▁oldest ▁( 1 8 8 7 ) ▁of ▁such ▁organizations ▁for ▁education ▁in ▁the ▁performing ▁arts ▁east ▁of ▁Montreal . ▁The ▁Conserv atory ▁has ▁been ▁located ▁at ▁the ▁historic ▁Che bu ct o ▁School ▁in ▁West ▁End , ▁Hal if ax ▁since ▁ 1 9 9 6 . ▁ ▁History ▁▁ ▁When ▁the ▁school ▁was ▁founded ▁by ▁Re ver end ▁Robert ▁La ing ▁in ▁ 1 8 8 7 , ▁it ▁was ▁named ▁the ▁Hal if ax ▁Conserv atory ▁of ▁Music . ▁It ▁was ▁founded ▁under ▁Chapter ▁ 9 1 ▁of ▁the ▁Act s ▁of ▁the ▁Legisl ature ▁of ▁Nova ▁Scot ia . ▁In ▁ 1 8 9 1 , ▁the ▁first ▁public ▁performance ▁was ▁held , ▁a ▁concert ▁by ▁the ▁Dresden ▁T rio . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 2 1 , ▁under ▁a ▁Special ▁Act ▁of ▁the ▁Province ▁of ▁Nova ▁Scot ia , ▁the ▁Hal if ax ▁Conserv atory ▁of ▁Music ▁( HC M ) ▁was ▁incorpor ated . ▁Begin ning ▁in ▁ 1 9 5 4 , ▁the ▁school ▁offered ▁ball room ▁dan cing ▁instruction . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 5 4 ▁the ▁Hal if ax ▁Conserv atory ▁of ▁Music ▁( HC M ) ▁bought ▁the ▁assets ▁of ▁the ▁Mar itime ▁Academy ▁of ▁Music ▁( MA M ), ▁and ▁the ▁school ▁was ▁renamed ▁the ▁Mar itime ▁Conserv atory ▁of ▁Music . ▁ ▁In