The Oakville Children's Choir is an internationally recognized multi-level community children’s choir that provides children in the
Oakville, Ontario community with music education, leadership development and performance opportunities. The organization has six choirs composed of children between the ages of 5 and 18, under the artistic direction of Sarah Morrison.
History
The OCC was created in May 1994 by Glenda Crawford assuming the position as founder and director. The organization began with 40 children with its first rehearsal on September 12, 1994. There were two choirs, a Senior Choir of 25 choristers from grades 4 to 8 and a Cherub Choir with 15 children from grades 1 to 3. The first concert was attended by the
Mayor of Oakville,
Ann Mulvale
Ann Mulvale (born 1949) is a Canadian politician. She served as mayor of Oakville, Ontario for 18 years, from 1988 to 2006.
Mayor of Oakville
Mulvale was first elected mayor in 1988, defeating incumbent Bill Perras, after unsuccessfully running ...
, on December 11, 1994.
In 1995, the OCC is incorporated as a non-profit organization. They released their first CD in 2001 and subsequent CDs in 2004 (''Celebrating 10 Years''), and 2005 (''Place of the Blest'').
In 2006, Sarah Morrison took over artistic responsibilities for the organization.
Awards and recognition
2013-2014
* At the 8th World Choir Games in Riga, Latvia, the OCC Senior Choir won a Gold Medal in the Youth Choir of Equal Voices category, Champion level and the OCC Chamber Choir won a Silver Medal in the Musica Sacra category, Champion level.
2012-2013
*Choir wins 'Best Arts Group Award' at the 2012
Cogeco
Cogeco Inc. is a Canadian telecommunications and media company. Its corporate offices are located at 1 Place Ville-Marie in Montreal, Quebec. The company is structured into three strategic business units (SBU); Cogeco Connexion, Breezeline ( ...
Stars Among Us awards hosted by the Oakville Arts Council.
2011-2012
* OCC Senior and Chamber Choirs earn Gold Standings at The 2012
World Choir Games, held in
Cincinnati USA July 4–14, 2012. In total, 362 choirs from 64 countries and 15,000 participants took part in the event which is among the largest choral festivals and competitions in the world
2010-2011
* Sarah Morrison wins
Leslie Bell Prize for Choral Conducting
* Senior Choir wins Peel Festival, invited to MusicFest national festival, places 2nd in Provincial competition
[Oakville Beaver, 27 April 2011, p 22 "http://images.halinet.on.ca/2299773/page/26"]
2009-2010
* Senior Chamber wins 3 silver medals at International Choral Festival of
Preveza
Preveza ( el, Πρέβεζα, ) is a city in the region of Epirus, northwestern Greece, located on the northern peninsula at the mouth of the Ambracian Gulf. It is the capital of the regional unit of Preveza, which is part of the region of Epiru ...
,
Greece
2007-2008
* Boy Choir attained Gold-Medal standing at the
Kiwanis Music Festival The Kiwanis Music Festival movement consists of regional music competitions.
These festivals are named after the Kiwanis service clubs which generally support the events in each community. Typically, musicians and speech arts performers at each fes ...
2005-2006
* Guest artist
hosts Christmas concert
2004-2005
* OCC performs at
ACDA National Convention in
Los Angeles, CA
*
Dinah Christie participates in the Christmas Concert
2003-2004
* Senior Choir received both a gold medal in the children's choir category, and a silver medal in the Folksong category in
Bremen, Germany for the
Choir Olympics
* National finalist in the CBC Choral competition - both in the Chamber and Children's categories
* The
Elmer Iseler Singers joined the OCC for the Christmas Concert
2002-2003
* Chamber Choir competes in
Hungary and qualifies for
Choir Olympics
* Chamber Choir receives gold standing in
Budapest
*
Ron MacLean of
Hockey Night in Canada was the guest host at the Community Carol Concert
2001-2002
*
Susan Aglukark is the special guest at the OCC Christmas Concert
* Senior Choir tour to International Choral Kathaumixw in
Powell River, BC and places 2nd in its category
* Glenda Crawford is awarded the
Queen's Jubilee Medal Queens is a borough of New York City.
Queens or Queen's may also refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* Queens (group), a Polish musical group
* "Queens" (Saara Aalto song), 2018
* ''Queens'' (novel), by Stephen Pickles, 1984
* "Queens", a song by ...
for creating and developing The Oakville Children's Choir
1999-2000
* Senior Choir performs for Canadian Prime Minister
Jean Chrétien
Joseph Jacques Jean Chrétien (; born January 11, 1934) is a Canadian lawyer and politician who served as the 20th prime minister of Canada from 1993 to 2003.
Born and raised in Shawinigan Falls, Quebec, Chrétien is a law graduate from Uni ...
at the Prime Minister's Dinner
*
Veronica Tennant narrates the OCC Christmas Concert
* Mayor's Business Awards for Business and the Arts awards Glenda Crawford the Arts Leadership Award for her role as Director of The Oakville Children's Choir
1996-1997
* Senior Choir performed at the Ontario Legislature Christmas Concert
* Choir sang the National Anthems at
Toronto Blue Jays game
* Intermediate Choir places 1st at the
Hamilton Kiwanis Festival
* Participates in a performance of
Carmina Burana at the
Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts
1995-1996
* Awarded 1st Place in the Peel Music Festival
1994-1995
* Won Bach-Elgar Award at the
Hamilton Kiwanis Festival
References
External links
The Oakville Children's Choir WebsiteGlenda Crawford Profile on Chorus AmericaSarah Morrison Profile on Ontario Arts Council
{{authority control
Musical groups established in 1994
Canadian choirs
Charities based in Canada
Choirs of children
Youth choirs
Oakville, Ontario