We celebrated Leo Bekkers in the spring of 2025 for 20 years of faithful attendance! 1st Tenors are hard to come by and you will be missed Leo.
In Loving Memory
On Saturday, May 4, 2024 Fran Huizenga passed away peacefully at the age of 79. Fran was the loving wife of Henk Huizenga and one of the greatest supporters of the Ottawa Carleton Male Choir. ​ Fran tirelessly gave of her time to create all the tickets, posters and programs for each and every concert. She did this for many, many years. Fran had a gift for adding a wonderfully creative flair to all of her work. She also had a talent for making sure everyone was properly thanked after each concert and for providing wonderful flowers and bouquets. Fran is dearly missed.
In June 2024, Everard Zyteveld stepped down for the role of treasurer. The Ottawa Carleton Male Choir thanks him for his MANY years of taking care of finances and tracking down all the membership fees. He did a fine job and kept our finances in good shape.
We also wish to welcome Don Clysdale to the role of treasurer. We are grateful for his willingness to take this on.
Christmas Concert 2023
The choir held 2 concerts this season with many special musical guests.
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At Woodroffe United Church on December 8, the choir was joined by the guest choir Atlantic Voices under the direction of Scott Richardson. Also joining in was MC Kimberly Allen-McGill, Mezzo soprano Pauline Van der Roest, The Capital City Trombone Quartet and Brent Ferguson on trumpet.
This concert raised $1000 for the local Salvation Army.
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At St. Mary's Anglican Church in Navan on December 15, the choir was joined by soprano soloist Cara Gilbertson. One of the numbers also featured Denis Watson on bagpipes.
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In September 2023, Dwayne Johnston stepped down for the role of librarian. The Ottawa Carleton Male Choir thanks him for his MANY years of being librarian. He did a super job and was always patient with those who were missing music.
On Wednesday, October 11, 2023 Christine Admiral began her new role as director of the choir.
This day also marked the beginning of our new collaborative pianist, Rhys Carrière-Webster.
Italy Tour 2023
The choir ventured overseas to gorgeous Italy to spend 10 days touring, tasting and performing.
3 concerts were held in Campobasso, Anghiari and Roma
Congratulations Henk
Congratulations Henk
The Choir used the evening of the Spring 2022 concert to present Henk with a plaque commemorating the 25th anniversary since he led the launch of the Ottawa Carleton male Choir.
Maskless Practices Returned on March 23rd.
Maskless Practices Returned on March 23rd.
Thanks to the easing of provincial restrictions the OCMC returned to maskless practices on March 23, 2022.
Christmas Concert 2021
Christmas Concert 2021
First Christmas Concert in Two Years Yes, good news! Thanks to the easing of provincial COVID restrictions, and a favorable decision by the officials at the Calvin Christian Reformed Church, 1475 Merivale Road in Ottawa, The Ottawa Carleton Male Choir performed its 2021 Christmas concert there, on December 10th. Albeit it with masks, the choir and audience raised a joyful sound. Choir Director Aude Urbancic and Music Accompanist Christine Admiral added their own perspective on Christmas by playing two piano duets.
Choir Performance on December 1, 2021
Choir Performance on December 1, 2021
The Ottawa Carleton Male Choir will perform for an audience for the first time in over 15 months, for the residents at the Chartwell Rockcliffe Residence located at 100 Islands Lodge Rd., Ottawa, on December 1, 2021 from 7:30 to 8:30PM..
OCMC Welcomes New Members
OCMC Welcomes New Members
September 2021 Returning to Wednesday evening practices, post pandemic, the Choir is pleased to welcome five new members. They are, (left to right in the picture) Richard Manningham, Derek Howes, Trevor Deley, John Guinn and Vince Fullerton.​
September 2021: Choir member Mike Nyenhuis suffered a stroke about a year ago. During a recent visit by Henk Huizenga he was promised that we would publish this smile for his fellow choir members. His speech has not fully recovered but he managed to pass on his best wishes to Aude, Christine and the choir.
Visits can be arranged by calling 613-599-1991
Mike is currently in care at the Forest Hill Nursing Home. His address is Room 451 at 6501 Campeau Drive, Kanata.
September 15, 2021 GOOD NEWS! On this date the choir resumed Wednesday practice events under strictly observed COVID safety protocols. Regardless, the joyful sound was amazing!
Light at the end of the long, dark, tunnel
While the COVID war still rages, the choir will assemble for a practice on Wednesday September 15, 2021. Emerging victorious from a lock down lasting since April 2020, choir members will celebrate by raising their voices on Wednesdays evenings in defiance of this horrible virus. (COVID safety protocols being observed of course)
Light at the end of the long, dark, tunnel
While the COVID war still rages, the choir will assemble for a practice on Wednesday September 15, 2021. Emerging victorious from a lock down lasting since April 2020, choir members will celebrate by raising their voices on Wednesdays evenings in defiance of this horrible virus. (COVID safety protocols being observed of course)
John Hulbert, one of our fine tenors since 2006, passed away Easter Weekend 2020. John was a 90-year-old retired nuclear physicist and was living alone at the time of his death. He was predeceased by his first wife Elizabeth in 2005, and subsequently met Bernice at their condo social committee. They married in 2014. Bernice died in 2018 and the Choir sang at her memorial service. John is in the middle of the picture. He was a dedicated chorist and he is missed by all of us!
2019 Christmas Concert As a result of our 2019 Christmas Concert we were able to make a $2000 donation to the Ottawa Innercity Ministries, represented by Richard Hardy in the picture. Aude, the Choir Director is on the right and chorist Everard Zytveld presented the cheque.
The 2019 Christmas Concert was held at the Woodroffe United Church under the Direction of Aude Urbancic with Christine Admiral as our pianist. Our soprano soloist was Emili Losier and our trumpet soloist was Brent Ferguson. We were joined by The Spirit of the Streets Choir and the Phosphorus String Quartet. The program was called A European Christmas and consisted of selections in Dutch, German, French, Italian, Spanish, English and Latin, along with several selections by The Spirit of the Streets Choir, Phosphorous String Quartet, soloist Emili Losier and trumpeter Brent Ferguson.
The program was well received by the audience and there were many comments afterwards at the reception such as: "Great concert, so much variety, the choir sounds better every year, the soloist Emili Losier was wonderful, the Phosphorus Quartet was fantastic as well as Brent Ferguson, the trumpet player etc."
People also enjoyed The Spirit of the Streets Choir under the Direction of Richard Hardy. This choir was formed in 2015 as a joint program between the National Capital Region Kiwanis Music Festival and the Ottawa Innercity Ministries.
$3000 donation to The Ottawa Hospital Foundation From our 21st Annual Christmas Concert The Ottawa Carleton Male Choir and Wubs Transit together donated $3000 towards the Testicular Cancer Research in memory of Robert Wubs
Henk Huizenga donating the cheque to Andrea Timlin Development Officer of The Ottawa Hospital foundation
Christmas Concert 2018 On December 14th, we had our annual Christmas concert at Woodroffe United Church. It was a beautiful evening as we were joined by the Ottawa Celtic choir along with soloists Madox Terrell (Baritone), Rheana Slack (Violin) and Brent Ferguson (Trumpet).
The Ottawa Carleton Male Choir goes to a Hockey Game On December 8th, we sang a 45 minute concert as the hockey fans attended the Ottawa-Pittsburg hockey game at the Canadian Tire Centre. We had a lot of fun and even stayed to watch the game.
Spring Concert May 25 2018 On May 25 we had our Spring Concert at City View United Church in Ottawa and had the pleasure of having Hyung Song be our guest Bass Soloist with his deep rich voice the evening was well received so much that we had to sing Old Man River twice,!
This was Margaret VanDyk last concert of Directing the Choir, after 10 years she decided to hand over the directing par .We are pleased that Margaret will stay on as our Organist
Choir Banquet April 13 2018 We had a great evening together with excellent entertainment by Howard Dickson and Christine Admiraal the food was delicious.
$2000 donation to the Canadian Health Association Henk Huizenga and Tom Hay from Ottawa Carleton Male Choir donated $2000 to Tim Simboli Executive Director from Canadian Health Association, from the net proceeds made of the past Annual 20th Christmas Concert 2017.
Sounds of the Season our 20th Annual Christmas Concert On December 8 2017 the Ottawa Carleton Male Choir had their 20 the Annual Christmas concert at Woodroffe United Church with Guest the Montagna Singers and the Alpenhorn Players the Audience loved it!
Concert with The Libertas Male Choir On June 7 2017 the Ottawa Carleton Male Choir was the Guest Choir of the concert with the Libertas Male Choir at St Andrews Presbyterian Church in Ottawa Directed by Martin Mans and Organist Martin Zonneberg with Flutist Marjolein de Wit. Great Concert we sing together "Majesty" available on You tube
$2000 donation to the Tanzania Education and Micro-Business Opportunity In February 2017, we were able to present the proceeds from our Christmas 2016 concert by way of a cheque for $2000 to former choir member Ken Holman for TEMBO (Tanzania Education and Micro-Business Opportunity).
Pieter Teeninga (1920-2016) Pieter Teeninga died on December 26, 2016 at the age of 96.
Pieter was a dedicated member who sang in the bass section of the Choir for a number of years.
2015 Christmas Concert and Charitable Donation On December 11, 2015 we held our annual Christmas Concert at the Woodroffe United Church with special guests the Harmonia Choir of Ottawa. The title of the concert was "O Come Let Us Adore Him". Proceeds go to the Ryan's Well Foundation.
"January 29, 2016 - Our friends at the Ottawa Carleton Male Choir dropped by today with a generous donation from their 2015 Christmas Concert! Through their concerts in past years, the Choir has raised over $40,000 for various charities. Thank you for supporting us!"
- Ryan's Well Foundation
Concert with Guest Choir Trelawny Choir On September 11, 2015 we hosted the Trelawny Choir from Cornwall, England at Woodroffe United Church to a packed house. Proceeds were given to the Queensway Carleton Hospital's ACE (Acute Care of the Elderly) program.
Henk Huizenga and Everard Zytveld Donated the cheque of $2150 on behalf of Trelawny and Ottawa Carleton Male Choir.
During Covid-19, the choir produced two virtual videos. To hear these songs, find Aude Urbancic on YouTube.
