About the choir
Nepean Choir was founded in 1975 under the auspices of Nepean Parks and Recreation for “adults who like to sing”. The choir has grown from its roots in the former City of Nepean to welcome members from all parts of the Ottawa area and the Outaouais.
Now in its second half-century, the choir performs two concerts a year, as well as out in the community at retirement homes and fundraising events and caroling in the Byward Market and other locations. Its repertoire ranges widely, from the classics of the choral canon to contemporary choral music by Andrew Balfour, Caroline Shaw, Karl Jenkins, Ola Gjello, and others.
For its 60 to 70 members, Nepean Choir’s warm and welcoming atmosphere makes it a true haven for those who want to explore serious music of all centuries, especially our own, while having fun, making friends, and establishing life-long relationships.
Lee Carter
Director
Lee Carter is an educator, musician and respected choral director whose passion for music and teaching others to love music can be found in all facets of his career. Music director of Castenchel Choir since 2014, Lee is also the artistic director for the European Union’s Christmas Concert held annually at Notre-Dame Basilica in Ottawa.
While a regular clinician and guest conductor in the community, Lee is a full-time teacher at Nepean High School, conducting the choirs and teaching instrumental music. In 2012, Lee was awarded the “Arts Recognition Award for Secondary Music” by the Ottawa Carleton District School Board Advisory Committee on the Arts for his creative directorship of the choral program. Mr. Carter’s passion for collaborative music making sees him frequently working with great musicians locally, nationally and internationally.
Lee holds Bachelor’s Degrees of Music and Education from the University of Ottawa where he studied tuba with Nick Atkinson and voice with Sandra Graham.
Previous directors
Denise Hawkins (1997-2018)
Bernice Oak (1978-97)
Kazimier Samujlo (1976-78)
Jackie Mandrell (1975)
Sara-Lynn Hutchison
Accompanist
Sara-Lynn Hutchison holds a Master of Music degree in Accompanying and Chamber Music from the University of Western Ontario and a Bachelor of Music in Performance from the University of Toronto. Sara-Lynn has accompanied numerous choirs including the Laurentian University Choir, Amabile Choirs of London and the Shenandoah Valley Children’s Chorus in Virginia. For over ten years, Sara-Lynn was the full-time pianist and coach at St. Mary Choir School in London, Ontario. A certified teacher, Sara-Lynn (OCT) is an elementary school teacher at Arch Street Public School in the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board.
Previous accompanists
Risa Tonito (2018-19)
Sara-Lynn Hutchison (2010-18)
Sarah Westbrook (2008-2010)
David Loyer (2002-08)
Saundra Vandenberg (1996-2001)
Joanne Holden (1995)
Cynthia Watson (1989-95)
Marian Gilmore(1979-89)
Maeve Marshall (1975-79)
The Nepean Choir presents each year at the local Kiwanis music festival the Bernice Oak Award of $200.00 to the first-place choral group. The award honours the memory of our former director, Bernice Oak, who led the choir for nearly twenty years, from 1979 until her passing in 1997.
