The “Liberation Choir” was formed in 1993 as the result of an invitation by the “Committee Liberation Concerts” in the Netherlands, to Mr.Willem VanSuijdam, a church organist and choir director in a Toronto area church. They requested that he form a Canadian mixed choir of at least 150 voices to participate in a concert series to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands from German oppression. Putting together a choir of that magnitude is no small matter. Mr.VanSuijdam approached several people to form a Board of Directors for the purpose of taking on this task. Five persons agreed to take on the challenge, and an intensive recruitment process followed which resulted in the formation of a choir with 204 members who travelled to the Netherlands on April 24, 1995.
The choir has made 3 subsequent trips to the Netherlands and has also held many exciting concerts the Golden Horseshoe area with many notable guests and accompanists.
The Liberation choir has 5 cd’s released,,and has a full Concert video to it’s credit
Willem Van Suijdam served the choir very capably as director, until March 2008. At that time Rob Kinnear was welcomed as our current director. Our spring concerts under the direction of Rob Kinnear were very well received, and we were accompanied by Christopher Dawes, and Ian Sadler. We were also accompanied by the Choraliers men’s choir at both of our spring concerts.
This past fall we participated in “An Act of Remembrance” at the Rose theatre in Brampton, followed by four varied Christmas programs in December at St. Lukes Burlington we presented “Brother Heinrich”, at Rehoboth CRC Bowmanville, a World Wide Christian Schools fundraising concert and sing-along, at St. Giles United in Hamilton, a World Wide Christian Schools fund raising
concert and sing-along, accompanied by the Steeltown Symphony, and at Georgetown Christian Reformed Church, a fundraising concert and sing-along, accompanied by the Choraliers, in support of the Salvation Army Kettle .
Liberation Choir 2007 - Hamilton Place
Above The Liberation choir's First Practice in 1993 with Director, Willem VanSuijdam
Above The Liberation Choir before they depart for the 1995 Tour.