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John Bkila Sub-Editor jbkila@oakvillebeaver.com Ivy James up for Toronto Independent Music Award James performing locally at Shakers Smokehouse BBQ and Sports Bar Saturday Oakville award-winning singer/songwriter Ivy James has been nominated for a 2016 Toronto Independent Music Award. Named in the Best Adult Contemporary category, James will find out next Friday (Sept. 30) at Toronto's Revival bar if she'll be taking home any hardware. But it's not the first time she's had the chance to win an award. In 2012, James received a Toronto Independent Music Award for Best Young Songwriter and a Kitchener Indie Award in 2013. In addition to her award nomination this year, James released a new single, Leave A Light On, Sept. 12 produced by former illScarlett guitarist Justin Zoltek of Steal! Records -- the music video (available on YouTube) was produced by Instillment Productions. She will also be performing tomorrow (Saturday) at Shakers Smokehouse BBQ and Sports Bar, 580 Kerr St., where she'll join other area artists for the show. The Oakville singer/songwriter released her first self-titled EP in 2012 when she was 16 years old and since then has become a regular fixture on the festival circuit, most recently performing at the Burlington Sound of Music Festival, Hamilton's Festival of Friends and Canadian Music Week, this year. James was also a finalist at Indie Week Canada 2015 where she performed live with eight other top-ranked acts at Toronto's Mod Club. In addition, she performs annually at Canadian Music Week and KOI Music Festival, and has had shows at Indie Week Canada and the Oakville Jazz Festival. Ivy James performs during the Indie Week 2015 finals at the Mod Club in Toronto. The Oakville music artist is up for a Toronto Independent Music Award. | Wendy L. Rombough photo Artscene 23 | Friday, September 23, 2016 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com "Connected to your Community" Masterworks of Oakville looking for new members Masterworks of Oakville Chorus and Orchestra is looking for new members for its upcoming season. Choir rehearsals begin Saturday (Sept. 24) and run from 10 a.m.1 p.m., while orchestra rehearsals start Nov. 20. Later this fall, the group kicks off the holiday season with its concert performances of Johann Sebastian Bach's Christmas Oratorio Parts IV , V and VI, which will be held Saturday, Nov. 26 and Sunday, Nov. 27 at St. Andrew Church in downtown Oakville. The concerts are highly-anticipated cultural events, according to organizers, and are broadcast on TV . "Masterworks is proud to entertain some of the largest audiences in Oakville, regularly performing to 800-1,000 people over a concert weekend," stated a media release. Anyone interested in joining Masterworks, contact Artistic Director Charles Demuynck at charlesdemuynckvideo@gmail. com. For more information, visit www. masterworksofoakville.ca. Creative Connections Join Oakville Arts Council and Town of Oakville at Creative Connections free arts networking event Wednesday, Sept. 28, from 1-2 p.m. Artists and cultural workers from all disciplines invited. Speaker: Veronica Tyrell of Canadian Caribbean Association of Halton. Registration is not required, but appreciated. Meet at Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre, 2302 Bridge Rd. Visit oakvillearts.com/events. The Capture Oakville photography competition returns this year with new categories. The annual photo contest, put on by the Oakville Camera Club and open to Ontario residents of all photography skills since 2007, offers participant the chance to win a $1,000 grand prize. Capture Oakville photo contest closes Oct. 3 in this category; · Out of the Camera -- unedited or unaltered images in colour or black and white straight from the camera; · Expression -- an exclusive category for youths aged 18 and younger. Capture Oakville is the only category that needs to be shot within town borders, while the others are only constrained by the limits of the photographer's imagination, according to organizers. Prizes for winners In addition to the grand prize, category prizes will also be handed out from sponsors. "We want to recognize the ongoing support from the Mark Kirton Team with Re/Max, the Town of Oakville through their Arts Grant Funding, Henry's, RBC Dominion Securities, Burlington Camera and Amplis Foto," said Bernie Cook, Capture Oakville chair and Oakville Camera Club vice-president. "Their generosity helps make Capture Oakville an amazing photography competition and exhibit." Submissions can be made online at captureoakville.com until Monday, Oct. 3. Those chosen to exhibit will be contacted to submit a print. The top photographs will be framed and exhibited in the main gallery at the Queen Elizabeth Park Community Cultural Centre (QEPCCC), 2302 Bridge Rd., starting Friday, Dec. 2 with an awards ceremony and opening night reception. The Oakville Camera Club, founded in 2006 by Kieley Hickey and Bill Smith, meets twice monthly at the QEPCCC from September to June. Complete rules and entry forms are available on the Capture Oakville website. In the Arts... Oakville Improv Comedy Jam Oakville Improv Theatre Company is hosting its Comedy Jam at The Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Sunday (Sept. 25) at 7:30 p.m. History Repeats Itself. History Repeats Itself. will star: Jeremy Butler, James Jeffers, Kevin Matviw, Iryna McCoubrey, Christine Pillman and Terri Skov; with special guests: Lisa Merchant and Gary Pearson. All music scored by Jordan Armstrong. Photo categories This year's categories include: · Capture Oakville -- photos must be shot within the Town of Oakville's borders capturing the natural beauty, landscapes and seasonal ambience; · Capture the Human Character (portrait, street or photojournalism); · Constructive Use of Geometric Shapes (the black and white category); · Grand Landscapes, By Nature's Design -- entrants can stretch their nature photography, while man-made elements are discouraged