Warren Herbert "Herb" Belyea (22 December 1917 - 4 August 2001) was a Canadian composer

Composer

A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...

, choir

Choir

A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...

 conductor

Conducting

Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...

, poet

Poet

A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...

, and music educator. As a composer he was commissioned to write works by the Manitoba Arts Council, the city of Winnipeg, and several choirs. Several of his compositions have been published by Frederick Harris Music

Frederick Harris Music

The Frederick Harris Music Co., Limited is a North American music publishing firm.Located in Toronto Ontario, The Frederick Harris Music Co., Limited has the largest catalogue of any Canadian print music publisher. Frederick Harris has supported the work of such renowned composers as Boris Berlin,...

. As a poet, he has published works using the pseudonym A.C. Darke.

Life and career

Born in Winnipeg

Winnipeg

Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...

, Belyea earned a Bachelor of Arts

Bachelor of Arts

A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...

 from St. John's College, University of Manitoba

St. John's College, University of Manitoba

St John's College is a small Anglican college located on the University of Manitoba campus in Winnipeg, Canada. It is home to the Institute for Anglican Ministry, a ministry of the Diocese of Rupert's Land that seeks to train Anglican lay people.-History:...

 in 1948, a Bachelor of Education

Bachelor of Education

A Bachelor of Education is an undergraduate academic degree which qualifies the graduate as a teacher in schools.-North America:...

 from the University of Manitoba

University of Manitoba

The University of Manitoba , in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the largest university in the province of Manitoba. It is Manitoba's most comprehensive and only research-intensive post-secondary educational institution. It was founded in 1877, making it Western Canada’s first university. It placed...

 (UM) in 1953, and a Master of Education

Master of Education

The Master of Education is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in a large number of countries. This degree in education often includes the following majors: curriculum and instruction, counseling, and administration. It is often conferred for educators advancing in...

 from the UM in 1961. He studied singing and conducting privately with W.H. Anderson

W.H. Anderson

William Henry Anderson was a Canadian composer, choir director, tenor, and voice teacher of English birth. He produced a large amount of vocal music, including more than 150 songs and 40 anthems as well as a significant amount of carols and other choral works...

. He began his career serving overseas in the Canadian Army before serving as choirmaster at St Jude's Anglican Church in Winnipeg from 1952-66. He later served in that same capacity at St Andrew's United Church during the 1970s. He joined the Education faculty at the University of Manitoba in 1967 where he taught for many years.

In 1969 Belyea became conductor of The Choristers

The Choristers

The Choristers was a Canadian chamber choir based in Winnipeg that gave weekly nationally broadcast programs on CBC Radio from 1942 through 1969. According to The Canadian Encyclopedia, the choir achieved "a national reputation for their fine choral blend and sense of style"...

 after the death of conductor Filmer Hubble

Filmer Hubble

Filmer Edwin Hubble was an Canadian organist, choir conductor, adjudicator, and music educator of English birth.-Life and career:...

. He conducted the group until it disbanded in 1974, notably leading them in several performances broadcast nationally on CBC Radio

CBC Radio

CBC Radio generally refers to the English-language radio operations of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The CBC operates a number of radio networks serving different audiences and programming niches, all of which are outlined below.-English:CBC Radio operates three English language...

. He also served as an adjudicator and clinician throughout Canada and in 1984 he was named a life member of the Manitoba Music Educators Association.