About the Ottawa Carleton Male Choir (OCMC)
The OCMC was founded in 1997 by Henk Huizenga. The Choir prides itself on bringing beautiful music to the community at our concerts and at a number of retirement home venues throughout the year.
The Choir is comprised of some 25+ men from all walks of life. We sing a variety of musical genres including classical, sacred, spiritual and secular works in several languages. From 1997 to 2023, there have been close to 100 members including directors and accompanists.
Our current Choir Director starting in October, 2023 is Christine Admiral. Past Choir Directors were Aude Urbancic (4.5 years), Margaret Van Dyk (10 years), Archie Smith (10 Years) and Christina Stapper (1 year).
The Choir has had the distinction of performing with many artists of note including virtuoso organist Andre Knevel from St.Catharines, ON., and the renowned organists Sander van Marion , Martin Zonneberg, Harm Hoeve, Jonathan Oldengarm and Choir Directors Martin Mans, and Freddy Veldkamp. Also musicians Liselotte Rokyta and Noortje van Middelkoop on Pan flute, all from the Netherlands. Also with several Male Choirs from the Netherlands, England and Canada.
In 2022 the Choir celebrated it's 25th Anniversary! Henk was awarded a special plaque for his outstanding commitment to the choir.
The choir continues it's celebrations with a concert tour to Italy in September 2023.
OCMC has also completed several concert tours:
- In May 2002, the Choir had a 10 day concert tour in the Netherlands.
- In May 2007 the Choir celebrated its 10th anniversary with an exciting two-week concert tour to the Czech Republic and the Netherlands. This event also marked the retirement of Choir Director Archie Smith.
- In May 2011, the Choir had a 10-day concert tour to Nova Scotia and PEI. We sang at Oxford, Tatamagouche, Halifax, Truro and Charlottetown.
Through its concerts in past years, the Choir has contributed a total of $52,900 to various charities - Kidney Foundation, C.H.E.O., Perley & Rideau Veterans' Health Centre, Winchester Hospital, Bone Marrow Transplant Fund, Churches/Organ Building Funds, Operation Go Home, the Osgoode Township Care Centre, the Ottawa Rotary Home Foundation, the Gideons, Canadian Cancer Society, the Aphasia Centre, the A.L.S. Society, the United Ostomy Support Group, the Canadian Council of the Blind, the Salvation Army of Ottawa, the Palliative Care Outreach Program Ottawa, Queensway Carleton Hospital, Ryan's Well Foundation, TEMBO (Tanzania Education and Micro-Business Opportunity), Mental Health Association (Ottawa Branch), Ottawa Hospital Foundation towards Testicular Cancer Research in Memory of Robert Wubs, Ottawa Inner-city Ministries, Food Bank, Ottawa Mission and the Salvation Army.