Lindsay Schoolcraft repeats as Artist of the Year at Oshawa Music Awards gala

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Published October 4, 2022 at 12:30 pm

Producer of the Year DSymphony (left) and Durham Song of the Year winner Gal George Gjurin

An ethereal Gothic Metal Solo Artist, a haunting harpist, a Fairy Gothmother, a Chamber Black Metal vocalist. Call Lindsay Schoolcraft what you like, but you can also call her a two-time Artist of the Year winner at the OMAs, Oshawa and Durham Region’s annual music celebration.

The awards were handed out at an in-person gala – the first event with butts in the comfortable seats since 2019 – on Thursday night at the Biltmore Theatre in downtown Oshawa, with hardware handed out for Artist of the Year, Emerging Artist of the Year, best Music Video, Single of the Year, Album of the Year, Durham Song of the Year, Producer of the Year and several special achievement honours, including Lifetime Achievement/Hall of Fame, Music Industry Person of the Year and top Music Teacher.

And what’s a music awards show without Music? Performers on the night included Tania Joy, Valdii and Delom Om, who, with Ben Anthony Lavoz, was a double winner, taking awards for Emerging Artist and Best Music Video for Delenquente.

The event was hosted by Schoolcraft, who was nominated for Producer of the Year as well as Artist of the Year. In her acceptance speech she put out the call for more women on the technical side of the music business, saying women bring a “different quality” to the job which is sorely needed.

After the show she went on social media to thank her fans for their support. “I wanted to say thank you for making this possible. Our time here and what we create is so precious. I’m eternally grateful for all of you.”

 

Lindsay Schoolcraft, two-time OMA Artist of the Year

Other winners on the night included Jadea Kelly for Single of the Year for Happy; Wayne Madder for Album of the Year for Unconditional; Cameron Tania – who was positively glowing with joy after her name was announced – for Songwriter of the Year (she was also nominated for Emerging Artist); Gal George Gjurin for Durham Song of the Year for Shine; and DSymphony for Producer of the Year.

Hill Kourkoutis, the first woman to ever win (or even be nominated) Engineer of the Year at the Junos, was named earlier as the Music Industry Person of the Year. The Music Teacher of the Year award went to Emily Snellings, a Whitby singer/songwriter and music teacher at RH Cornish PS in Whitby who seamlessly blends catchy pop hooks, rich jazz harmonies and soulful R&B grooves in her music. Snellings also gave an impassioned speech urging greater resources for public music education while accepting the award.

The Lifetime Achievement/Hall of Fame Awards were given to three performers/groups this year: The 1970s pop band Wednesday, Blue Rodeo co-founder Greg Keelor; and the Durham Girls Choir.

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