Our History
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How it all began
The First Idea (1996)
Our choir traces its beginnings to 1996, when Henk Huizenga brought together a small group of Dutch men who shared a love of singing and a pride in their heritage.
The group was originally formed to support Ottawa’s “Friendship Windmill” project, an initiative to build a traditional Dutch windmill in the city. The windmill was intended as a symbol of friendship and gratitude for Canada's role in the liberation of the Netherlands during the Second World War.
To help promote the project and celebrate Dutch culture, Henk created a small singing group called “Dutch Treat.”
The First Performances
The newly formed group prepared a lively program of about 15 songs, including:
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Dutch folk songs
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English selections
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One French song
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Their first major performance took place at the Ottawa Exhibition (the “Ex”) in August 1996, in the International Village.
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To make the performances even more memorable, the singers embraced Dutch-inspired costumes. Members were encouraged to wear:
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Black caps (“petjes”)
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White shirts
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Red handkerchiefs
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Black pants
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Wooden shoes
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These performances were meant to promote Dutch culture while entertaining visitors at the exhibition.
A Small Group Begins to Grow (1997)
What began as a small cultural project quickly revealed something more: a shared love of singing together.
By 1997, Henk invited more singers to join and began shaping a vision for a new male choir that would sing music from many parts of the world.
The goal was simple:
To sing in harmony and enjoy the beautiful sound of traditional male choir music.
The choir’s repertoire would include both a cappella singing and music accompanied by instruments, creating a unique and varied musical style.
Two Traditions: Dutch Treat and the Choir
The original Dutch-themed ensemble continued performing as Dutch Treat, especially when singing Dutch repertoire and appearing in traditional costume.
At the same time, the growing group of singers began developing into a larger male choir, expanding its repertoire and planning regular concerts.
By early 1998, rehearsals, dress codes, and concert planning were already underway, showing that the small group formed just two years earlier had become something much more.
The Beginning of a Musical Community
From these humble beginnings—organized by Henk Huizenga and a handful of enthusiastic singers—the choir gradually grew into a vibrant musical community.
What started as a cultural celebration and a small performance group soon developed into a lasting tradition of friendship, harmony, and song.
And it all began with one simple idea: bringing people together through music.
Our Choir Directors
Christina Stapper
1 year
Archie Smith
10 years
Margaret Van Dyk
10 years
Aude Urbancic
4.5 years
Christine Admiral
Current
Our Pianists
Donna Cherry
1997
Oksana Iliasevitch
2002
Tina van Vlaanderen
2010
Christine Admiral
2016
Rhys Carrière-Webster
2023
Anouk Marks
2026
Through the Years
Guest Artists
Over the years, the choir has had the privilege of collaborating with many distinguished artists. These include virtuoso organist Andre Knevel of St. Catharines, Ontario; renowned organists Sander van Marion, Martin Zonneveld, Harm Hoeve, and Jonathan Oldengarm; and celebrated choir directors Martin Mans and Freddy Veldkamp. The choir has also performed with Dutch pan flutists Liselotte Rokyta and Noortje van Middelkoop, as well as with several male choirs from the Netherlands, England, and Canada.
Celebrating 25 Years
In 2022, the Ottawa Carleton Male Choir proudly celebrated its 25th anniversary. In recognition of his outstanding dedication and vision, founder and choir coordinator Henk Huizenga was awarded a special plaque honoring his commitment to the choir.
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The anniversary celebrations continued in September 2023 with a memorable concert tour to Italy, marking another significant milestone in the choir’s ongoing journey.