About us
The Singers
Oxford Collegium Singers is a choral ensemble based in Oxford County. It meets from September through April at Oxford Reformed Christian School in Mount Elgin. The choir’s mandate is to perform larger, sacred choral works from the canon of western choral music. It further aims to bring a message of hope and to support charities in its local communities and beyond. For audition inquiries, please send an email to jvan_ittersum@orcschool.ca.
Artistic Director
Mr. Johann VanIttersum studied voice and choral conducting with Tannis Sprott and Dr. Christiaan Teeuwsen respectively at Redeemer University. In recent years he furthered vocal studies with tenor Robert MacLaren. Johann has a deep appreciation for sacred oratorio, passion music, and the English and German choral traditions. He has conducted major choral works, including Bach’s Magnificat and Cantatas, Vivaldi’s Gloria, Handel’s Messiah, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, and Haydn’s Creation. As a baritone, he is a chorister and soloist with the Arcady Ensemble, Redeemer’s Alumni Choir, and Choral Connection; in addition, he frequently freelances as a soloist or ensemble singer throughout South-Western Ontario. Johann is artistic director of Oxford Collegium Singers and Ensemble Cantate Iterum, semi-professional choirs based in Oxford County, Ontario. He conducts two high school choral ensembles at Oxford Reformed Christian School and teaches a small number of voice students in his private studio.
Collaborative Pianist
Sarah Kenter holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Wilfrid Laurier University and a Master of Music degree from the University of Western Ontario. She has studied piano under Heather Taves, John Hess, and Marianna Chibotar-Rutkevich. Sarah has appeared as a soloist with the Wilfrid Laurier University Symphony Orchestra, and has worked as a collaborative pianist with several voice studios. Currently, Sarah serves as a piano instructor throughout Oxford County and the Kitchener-Waterloo Region, and performs regularly at local events. She also teaches English and accompanies the High School choirs at Oxford Reformed Christian School in Mt. Elgin. When not acting as rehearsal pianist, Sarah enjoys joining the tenor section for OCS performances, and participates in other local choral groups.