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Here are the finalists, you pick the winners Stars Among Us winners selected by fan vote By Dominik Kurek OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF The Oakville Arts Council has whittled down the field to just a few finalists. Now, it wants members of the community to select the winners of this year's Cogeco Stars Among Us. Stars Among Us celebrates the artistic achievements of individuals and organizations in the community through an awards ceremony that will take place on Sept. 20 This year will mark the fourth annual event. In past years, a team of judges selected the winners out of the field of finalists in each category. This year, however, the judges selected the finalists for each category and it is up to the people of Oakville to select the winners by voting online. "We opened the awards up to the public voting because we want to encourage community engagement in the arts in Oakville," said Megan Whittington, executive director of the arts council. She spoke at the Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre to a gathering of finalists and their friends and family on Wednesday, Aug. 15 at the Artscene 23 · Friday, August 17, 2012 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com MARTA IWANEK / OAKVILLE BEAVER / @halton_photog STARS AMONG US: Mayor Rob Burton (far left) and Oakville Arts Council president Victoria Behune (middle, in white) cheer with the Cogeco Stars Among Us finalists at Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre on Wednesday. launch of this year's Stars Among Us. "Tonight we are recognizing the Oakville Arts Awards finalists and launching our new community voting site," she said. "We are asking our community to select Oakville arts awards winners." The 16 finalists in six categories were announced at the launch event. There will be six winners at the awards ceremony, which will include dinner and entertainment, including by some of the nominees. "I'm looking forward with great excitement to the show on the 20th," Mayor Rob Burton said. He applauded the work of the arts council for putting on the successful arts awards program year after year. "I want to thank Megan and her staff for the concept of having a show to celebrate our achievers in the arts. This has really taken off. It's been a joy to watch and participate in every year." The following is a list of the categories and the finalists in each: · Literary Arts ­ Crystal Smith, Derik Hawley and Mike Przysiezny · Visual Arts ­ Angel Card and Lynn Borysiuk · Performing Arts ­ Andrew Cole, Krista Earle and Sarah Anne Wolkowski · Digital Arts ­ Stephanie Faye and Siobhan Byrne · Young Artist ­ Annie Drysdale, Colin Brennan and Mira Meikle · Arts Organization ­ INSASONG ­ John Serre, Whiskey Epiphany and Oakville Children's Choir Voting is open now and closes on Sept. 13. It can be done at www. oakvillearts.com. There are bios of each finalist and samples of their work on the website. Victoria Behune, president of the arts council, addressed the finalists after they were announced. "We share your nervousness and anticipation about what the results will be from the new and exciting online voting system," she said. "We can't wait to count down the days to the actual awards evening event." The awards ceremony will take place at the Oakville Conference Centre, 2515 Wyecroft Rd. It will run from 6:30-10 p.m. Tickets cost $75 (includes dinner), or $700 for a table of 10. Tickets are available at www.oakvillearts.com. *** Oakville Arts Council is hosting a Cultural Grants workshop for groups to help them with their application process on Sunday. The workshop is at the Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre, 2302 Bridge Rd., at 2 p.m. St. Jude's Celebration of the Arts is presenting a summer bonus concert, the first in its 21-year history to take place this time of year. The concert, titled A Summer's Song, takes place on Sunday at 4 p.m. The concert will be performed by soprano and pianist Anna Betka, baritone Sean Johnston and pianist Hana Gurtlerova. The program will consist of classical music and some lighter fare. It will include music by Antonio Vivaldi, George Frideric Handel, Robert Schumann, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven to go along with music from The Music Man, My Fair Lady, South Pacific and The Pirates of Penzance. St. Jude's Anglican Church is St. Jude's hosts bonus summer concert located at 160 William St. Admission is free. An offering will be received. For more information, visit www. oakvilleconcerts.com. Oakville NissanFamily Series Shop Naked! (If you are so InclIned.) nclIned.) PINKALICIOUS (ages 2 to 10) October 21 CANADIAN OPERA CO: HANSEL & GRETEL (ages 6 to 12) November 25 OUTERBRIDGE: THE TIME CAPSULE (ages 8+) December 22 PETER & THE WOLF (ages 6 to 10) January 27 TALES OF THE GARDEN (ages 5 to 10) March 12 & 13 BOO! (ages 4 to 12) April 7 regIster start sh today, o & We'll s pping. hIp It FREE! THE OAKVILLE CENTRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS To order tickets call: 905-815-2021 or go to All performances are at www.oakvillecentre.ca