Charles-Auguste Villeneuve

Villeneuve, Charles-Auguste

Charles-Auguste Villeneuve. Bandmaster, oboist, administrator, teacher, b L'Ange-Gardien, near Quebec City, 15 Dec 1930; ARCM 1958, LRAM 1959. He began voice lessons at eight and later took up clarinet, then oboe which he studied at the CMQ with Réal Gagnier. He was a member of the Quebec Symphony Orchestra 1951-7 and participated in CBC broadcasts 1950-7. He joined the Royal 22nd Regiment Band in 1952. Chosen by competition, he studied conducting at the RMSM (Kneller Hall) in England 1957-60 where he obtained a diploma. He was band director of the Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps1960-8, the Royal Canadian Artillery 1968-79 and the Royal 22nd Regiment 1978-80. With these bands he frequently toured and resided in Europe, including three years in the Federal Republic of Germany 1965-8, and also in the USA and Canada. He took part in numerous festivals of military music as guest conductor and taught oboe at Laval University 1975-7. Promoted to the grade of lieutenant-colonel in 1980, Villeneuve held the posts of Canadian Forces Music Supervisor, Music Services Adviser for Chief of the Defence Staff, and commandant of the Canadian Forces School of Music. Upon retiring in 1984 he became director of the School of Music for Eastern Region Cadets and, at the same time, was National Music Adviser for Canadian Cadets organizations 1984-90. He is the composer of two unpublished marches, La Belle Équipe and Servir.