La Musique du Royal 22e Régiment

The 6th Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment Band

The regimental band was formed in Quebec City in 1922 with the 20 members of the former Royal Canadian Artillery Band. A year later, the band began performing at the Orpheum Theatre, in Québec City and on radio station CKAC in Montreal. During World War II the ensemble gave performances primarily to encourage recruitment. The band has performed for the coronations of two British monarchs (George VI in 1937 and Elizabeth II in 1953). It was present at the 300th, 350th, and 400th anniversary of Quebec City. The band resided at the Quebec’s Citadel until 1988, after which time it moved to the Canadian Forces Base at Valcartier near Quebec City. Following a reorganization of Canadian military bands in July 1994, the regimental band was dissolved. 3 years later, it was reestablished. The band joined the ranks of the 2nd Canadian Division Support Group in 2006.[1][2][3]

• The band has participated in the guard mounting ceremony at the Citadelle of Québec continuously since 1945.[4]
• In 1967, the band was one of 17 bands that took part in the Canadian Armed Forces Tattoo.[5][6]
• For a number of years, the band, along with the Musique des Voltigeurs de Québec, hosted the Quebec City International Festival of Military Bands.
• In 2007, the band marched in O'Higgins Park in Santiago de Chile during the Great Military Parade of Chile.[7]
• In 2008, the band took part in a parade as well as other events related to the 400th anniversary of Quebec City.
• The International Anthem of the Royal Golf Clubs, which commissioned by Lieutenant Governor of Quebec, was premiered by the band on 12 September 2017.[8][9]
• In February 2019, the band's brass quintet performed in Kuujjuaq in the first visit of a military band in northern Quebec.[10]

The Band of the 6th Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment, also known as the Red Guard Band, is another formation in the regiment which serves alongside the main regimental band. The band was founded in 1871 as the 84th Battalion Brass Band in Saint-Hyacinthe. The band would introduce its first musical director, Léon Ringuet (nicknamed the "Father of Music in Saint-Hyacinthe"), in 1885. The brass band performed at concerts dedicated to the silver jubilee of King George V and performed in citywide parades on 12 May 1937, during the Coronation of George VI and Elizabeth. On 2 February 1956, the Band of the 84th Regiment of Saint-Hyacinthe was attached to the Royal 22e Régiment. It was added as an additional reserve band for the larger one as part of its 6th Battalion. In its first performance in 1962, it welcomed Canadian Governor General Georges Vanier. The following year, the fanfare grew to 38 musicians and began to wear the red tunic and the bearskin cap. On 26 September 1973, the band is dissolved only to be reactivated three years later under Captain André Robert, who lead the band from 1976 to 1980. In 1980 the brass band had 35 musicians and began to perform during the Guard Mounting ceremony at the Citadelle of Quebec. The music ceased its activities in 1980 due to the transfer of several musicians to the Montreal Garrison Band. In 1987, the band was renamed with Captain Pierre Champagne at its head. Today, the band is composed of 25 musicians whose area of responsibility is primarily Saint-Hyacinthe and Drummondville. Outside of the band, musicians can work during the summer months with the Ceremonial Guard in Ottawa, the Stadacona Band of Maritime Forces Atlantic in Halifax, the School of Music at CFB Borden and the Canadian Cadet Organizations band camps.[11]

Major J. Destrempes (conductor and commanding officer of the band from 2002–2008) leading the band during the Freedom of the City ceremony in 2006

• Captain Charles O'Neill (1922–1937)[12]
• Captain E. Bélanger (1937–1961)
• Captain Joseph Pierre Armand Ferland[13] (1961–1965)
• Major Jean-François Pierret (1965–1978)
• Major Charles Villeneuve (1978–1980)[13]
• Captain Jean-Pierre Montminy (1980–1982)[14]
• Captain A. Dion (1982–1986)
• Captain D. Bouchard (1986–1990)
• Major Denis Bernier (1990–1994 and 1997–2002)
• Major J. Destrempes (2002–2008)
• Major Patrick Picard (2008–2012)
• Major Eric Gagnon (2012–2016)[15]
• Captain Christian Richer (2016–2018)[16]
• Captain Vincent Roy (2018–Present)

• Governor General's Foot Guards Band
• Canadian Grenadier Guards Band
• Royal Military College of Canada Bands

• Official Website
• Biography of Charles O'Neill
• The band at the Quebec Tattoo
• The band playing the Hymn to the Fallen in October 2015
• Le Royal 22e Régiment Canada avec la Fanfara Bersaglieri Italia