Martin Boundy

Boundy, Martin

Martin Boundy. Conductor, organist, b Southwick, Durham, England, 2 Oct 1911. In 1923 he left England and, with his parents, settled in Stratford, Ont, where he studied organ with W.T. Baird and played trumpet, trombone, and euphonium with the Salvation Army band and the CNR Employees' Band. He was supervisor of school music 1933-9 in Tillsonburg, Ont, organist and choirmaster at St Paul's United Church, and director of the Tillsonburg Citizen's Band. In 1939 he was was appointed organist-choirmaster at Wesley United Church in London, Ont.

After enlisting in the RCAF in 1941 he became the first permanent conductor of the Central Band of the RCAF in Ottawa. He was commissioned and posted overseas in 1942 and was appointed music director for the RCAF overseas. During this period the band played 55 concerts on the BBC and recorded for HMV as well as the Overseas Recorded Broadcasting Service. Boundy conducted the RCAF Overseas Headquarters Band at Buckingham Palace in 1944 and 1945 and after VE Day he directed the Overseas Service Band on a six-week tour of the Continent.

After returning to Canada in 1946 Boundy was named supervisor of instrumental music in London, Ont, schools and directed the London Tech Concert Band and the Police Boys' Band, leading both to many prizes in music festivals. He was conductor 1949-69 of the London Civic Symphony (Orchestra London Canada) and was music director 1969-78 at Fanshawe College and conductor of the college's Four Counties Choir. Honoured 24 Apr 1962 with the Bene Merenti Medal by Pope John XXIII, Boundy conducted the Band of the London, Ont, Catholic Central School before Pope Paul VI in Rome in 1964. He was also awarded the Medaille d'Honneur, Confederation Musicale de France in 1964, and was the first recipient, in 1972, of the Canada Band Directors' Award of the CBDA. Boundy has served 1950-1, 1969-72, and 1973-4 as president of the Ontario chapter of the CBDA and 1968-9 as president of the Canadian Music Festival Adjudicators' Association. He has guest-conducted and adjudicated in many places, including Taiwan in 1981. In 1984 he conducted the Yamaha Concert Band during his visit to Japan as president, 1983-4, of the American Band Masters' Association. Boundy also served 1963-9 as an alderman with the City Council of London, Ont.