Dirk Keetbaas

Dirk Keetbaas Jr. (June 20, 1921 – July 27, 1995) He became known as a member of the Symphony Six, a group of six musicians under contract to the Toronto Symphony Orchestra who were denied entry to the United States for a concert tour under suspicion of leftist activities.

Early life Dirk Keetbaas Jr. was born in Scheveningen, the Netherlands, to Dirk Keetbaas Sr. (1895-1988), who later became a violist and conductor in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. At the end of the season the orchestra did not renew its contracts with these musicians. This created a controversy in Canada.

Keetbaas went on to become the principal flautist for the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and the CBC Winnipeg Orchestra from 1953 to 1968. From 1956 to 1966 he directed and performed with the Dirk Keetbaas Players, a wind quintet featuring flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, and French horn. They had one son.

He died in Calgary on July 27, 1995, at age of 74. He had donated his music collection to the University of Manitoba.