www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, May 22, 2015 | 26 Oakville Children's Choir ends season with concert, award The Oakville Children's Choir (OCC) put a dazzling end to its season with a concert held earlier this month. Titled A Little A Capella and All That Jazz, the sell-out concert was held at the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts. All that jazz It featured young guest musicians from the local group High Rendition Jazz and the concert was themed around jazz pieces from the Preparatory Choir's groovy Scat Cat and Gershwin's I've Got Rhythm to the Senior Choir's reworking of All That Jazz from the musical Chicago. The Oakville Children's Choir is a collection of six choral groupings, ranging from the Kindergarten-aged Little Notes preparatory choir through the Cherub and Intermediate training choirs to the highschool-aged Senior and Chamber choirs -- and including the mixed-male-voice A Few Good Men, for boys and young men aged six to 28. Farewell reflections The concert also featured the traditional "farewell reflections" from nine graduating choristers, some of whom have been members of the choir for more than a decade. "All spoke eloquently about the camaraderie that membership has brought, along with the personal development, leadership opportunities and life-changing experiences that come with involvement in such an internationally-renowned performing arts group," stated a media release. Inaugural award During the festivities, the inaugural award of the Mitchell Watt Scholarship was given to Russell Sweeney, a graduating member of A Few Good Men who has been with the group since its inception. OCC member Watt established a scholarAbove, the Oakville Children's Choir performs during its end-of-season concert held on May 2 at the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts. At right, Mitchell Watt Scholarship award winner Russell Sweeney, left, accepts the recognition from Mitchell Watt, right. Watt established a scholarship foundation, with help from his parents and family, to create the annual award to recognize `exceptional leadership' within the choir and to help the recipient in their post-secondary education goals. | photo above by Alexis Lagos, photo at right submitted Artscene "Connected to your Community" ship foundation, with support from his parents and other family members, after his inspirational experiences with the local choir, according to the media release. The annual award is given to a chorister who has shown "exceptional leadership within the choir, in order to help them further post-secondary education goals." For more information on the choir or to join, visit the Oakville Children's Choir website at www.oakvillechildrenschoir.org. Auditions are currently taking place for next season for all choir levels. Halton Jazz Choir Singers to perform at the Toronto Vocal Arts Festival The Halton Jazz Choir Singers will be featured performers during next week's SING! The Toronto Vocal Arts Festival. Held from Wednesday, May 27-Saturday, May 31, the festival is in its fourth year and will present more than 50 performances and workshops. Headline concerts include: Grammy Awardwinning gospel sextet Take 6; O Canada: Our Nation's Greatest Hits; collaborations between iconic Canadian singers David Clayton-Thomas, Jane Sibbery and Quartette (featuring Sylvia Tyson) and Toronto's top a cappella groups; multi-platinum selling Finnish ensemble Rajaton; Estonian National Male Choir R.A.M. Koor; and Jubilate Deo, comprised of four Toronto church choirs performing sacred choral music from through the ages. For more information on the Halton Jazz Choir Singers or SING! The Toronto Vocal Arts Festival, visit www.haltonjazzchoir.com or www.singtoronto.com, respectively. Fundraiser concert for Walton United Church Walton Memorial United Church is putting on a fundraising concert show Sunday (May 24) where Almost Anything Goes. The extravaganza of music and comedy will be presented by music director Linda Fletcher and accompanist Janet King. The show starts at 7 p.m. at the 2489 Lakeshore Rd. W. church's Bronte Hall. Tickets cost $12 or $7 for children aged 12 and younger. For more information, call the church office at 905-827-1643. For more arts news, visit insidehalton.com