The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

John Bkila Sub-Editor jbkila@oakvillebeaver.com Oakville is showing the province it's a town full of talent as several residents are competing in the Canadian National Exhibition's (CNE) Rising Star Talent Competition. Currently celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, the talent competition "puts young and local talent in the spotlight as they take the stage to compete for prize money and make their dreams as budding entertainers come true," stated a media release. "This year, Oakville is sending a number Oakville well represented at CNE Rising Star competition of contestants who are in the running to take home (between) $1,000-$2,500 in prize cash as they go head-to-head against more than 100 unique acts in hopes of becoming Ontario's next Rising Star." Oakville contestants include: Kathleen Kovacs; Bella Grace Lecomte; Nadia Lopez; Beverly Tran; Sydney Quinian; and Capitol Behaviour, a band made up of Alex Beaton, John Beaton, Bennet Blundell and Christian Silva. Performers in many genres between the ages of six and 21 submitted applications to compete at the event and the top candidates were invited to perform at the CNE. Contestants are judged on their ability, audience appeal, stage presence and the quality of their performance. The competition runs at the CNE's International Stage at the Enercare Centre with the Junior Semi-Finals taking place Monday (Aug. 29) and Tuesday (Aug. 30); Youth Semi-Finals, Wednesday, Aug. 31-Friday, Sept. 2; Junior Finals, Saturday, Sept. 3; and Youth Finals on Sunday, Sept. 4. Artscene 77 | Friday, August 26, 2016 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com "Connected to your Community" Halton Jazz Singers looking for members Halton's first vocal jazz group is looking for some new singers to help bring their music to the community. Halton Jazz Singers announced earlier this month they are holding interviews for new altos, baritones and tenors. The group said it offers opportunities for adult men and women in Halton and the surrounding communities to participate and experience a small to medium size ensemble of mixed voices who perform jazz, blues and contemporary music repertoire. A jazz community for Halton Darcea Hiltz said she created Halton Jazz Singers in 2013 because she couldn't find a small jazz community group in Halton to sing with. Halton Jazz Singers is a growing choral arts organization and a registered non-profit group. Organizers say it was created for confident, competent singers who want to learn about and be challenged by tight jazz "Gershwin style" vocal harmonies. The group performs as a trio quartet and has performed in Oakville Towne Square with the Mississauga Swing Band, at the Kerr Street BIA Tree Lighting, and a multitude of long term care and retirement residences in Hamilton, Burlington, Milton and Mississauga. Most recently Halton Jazz Singers performed with Symphony on the Bay at the Canada Day Celebration in Burlington in front of 30,000 people. Today (Aug. 26) the group will perform in Oakville as the opening act for the Canadian Orpheus Male Choir at a special fundraising concert for Home Suite Hope at St. Paul's United Church, 454 Rebecca St., at 7 p.m. To arrange an audition and interview, please contact Halton Jazz Singers at haltonjazzsingers.info@gmail.com or phone 226-909-2152. D A N C E D I S T R I C T Infinitely More Infinitely More goes to church Sunday Residents are invited to a Sunday (Aug. 28) concert at Oakville's Church of the Incarnation, 1240 Old Abbey Lane, featuring 2015 East Coast Music Award nominee Infinitely More. Organizers say the husband and wife duo, Gerald Flemming and Allison Lynn, will delight the audience with music that is a fusion of folk, pop, jazz and hymns. The pair has recorded six full-length CDs in Nashville, and has been honoured with 10 national music award nominations, including five Covenant Award nominations from the Gospel Music Association of Canada. "We are always looking for ways to open our doors to the wider community, and when Allison contacted us about holding a concert here, we thought it was a perfect fit," said Rev. Michael Patterson, the rector at Incarnation. "This summer, we introduced a number of new community programs including our community garden, a lending library and yoga classes in our meditation garden. This concert seemed like a wonderful way to extend an invitation to peek inside the church in the woods." The concert begins at 7 p.m. It is free to anyone who wants to attend, but donations to World Vision Canada will be accepted. Actor and dancer Brittany Raymond (centre) from the Canadian drama series The Next Step, teaches some moves to young students at Dance District in Oakville. Raymond was hired as a celebrity teacher to mark the recent grand opening of the new dance studio for girls and boys ages three and up. For more information, visit www.dancedistrictoakville.ca. | Noah Park photo In the Arts... Tragically UNhip comedy show Oakville Improv Theatre Company is putting on The Tragically UNhip improv comedy jam at the Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St. Led by Oakville improvisers Christine Pillman and Jennifer Silvestro, the show starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $5. Final Lake Walk in Bronte Sept. 1 The final installment of The Lake Walk will take place in Bronte Village Thursday, Sept. 1, from 5-9 p.m. Nearly 40 Bronte Business Improvement Area (BIA) businesses and artists will participate, showcasing what the village has to offer through art, food, music and culture. The Lake Walk, which is inspired by Hamilton's Art Crawl, will also feature special promotions and activities from the participating Bronte area businesses and the Oakville Arts Council. For more information, visit brontevillage.net/lake-walk-2016. FEED YOUR ADDICTION Offering CANADA CUT & STYLE FROM $50 COLOUR FROM $65 TREATmENTS KERATIN $300+ Book your appointment today! 518 Postridge Drive 905-257-7427 colouraddiction.com