Musicatlas
Music
Morley Calvert composed and arranged works for band (some of which were for the Salvation Army), for brass quintet and for choir. His "Suite for the Monteregian Hills", published in 1961 by Berandol, was based on French Canadian folk songs and was named for the mountain range stretching from Mount Royal, Quebec to the American border. Many of his compositions employ folk music material and are light, pleasing works.
Life
Morley Calvert (1928-1991) was a conductor, bandmaster and composer born in Brantford, Ontario. His music education included an LSRM certification in 1946, and A. Mus degree from McGill in 1950, and a B. Mus degree from McGill in 1956. In 1958, Calvert founded the Monteregian Music Camp (providing summer training for high school students) at Ayers Cliff, Montreal, a camp which ended in 1970. He founded and directed the McGill University Concert Band, as well as starting a high school band in Montreal at Westmount High school. In 1967-72, Calvert founded and directed the Lakeshore Concert Band in Montreal.
Morley Calvert’s professional activities included the position of accompanist for Maureen Forrester. Calvert was invited to join the American Bandmasters Association (ABA), and taught the high school band program at Barrie Central Collegiate school. He was President of the Ontario Chapter of the Canadian Bandmasters Association, and from 1981-83, Executive Vice-President of the National Chapter of the Canadian Bandmasters Association. He was the artistic director of the Civic Concert Choir of Hamilton in 1987, and of the Weston Silver Band in 1988. At the time of his death, he was teaching music at Mohawk College in Hamilton, Ontario.