Captain(ret) ALBERT CORNELIUS "Con" Furey

It is with great regret that I announce the passing of one of Canada's truly finest musicians. Con Furey was the epitome of both magical talent and  wonderful musical instincts. He was gifted with perfect pitch and had the ability to write down large volumes of music almost instantly. He was a fine conductor and arranger and he was a superb trumpeter. His music arrangements  may still be heard on many the Canadian Forces recordings and he will be remembeerd as a great human being and a man with a terrific sense of humor. My sincere condolences to his wife and family.

Albert (Cornelius) Furey. Conductor, composer, arranger, b Dublin 7 Feb 1930 d 14 Nov 2007. He studied in Dublin and, after service with the Irish army, joined the Radio Eireann Light Orchestra as trumpet player and staff arranger. He moved in 1956 to a similar position in Canada, with the Central Band of the RCAF, Ottawa. He graduated in 1965 from the Canadian Forces School of Music with a fellowship from the CBA. In 1965 he became assistant music director of the North American Air Defense Band, Colorado Springs, which toured the USA and abroad. Promoted to captain in 1967 he was music director 1969-71 of the Training Command Band, Winnipeg, associate director 1971-5 of the Central Band of the Canadian Forces, Ottawa, and music director of the Naden Band, Victoria, BC 1975-81. In 1981 Furey became director of music cadet bands (Pacific) and was promoted to major in 1982. His duties were expanded in 1987 to include those of regional cadet music advisor. His compositions and arrangements exploit the broadened instrumentation of the modern concert band. He has composed two marches for Canadian Forces units: Golden Hawks (1967) and Mercury March (1974).