Career
As a composer he was commissioned to write works by the Manitoba Arts Council, the city of Winnipeg, and several choirs. Several of his compositions have been published by Frederick Harris Music. As a poet, he has published works using the pseudonym A.C. (before Christ) Darke.
Born in Winnipeg, Belyea earned a Bachelor of Arts from Saint John"s College, University of Manitoba in 1948, a Bachelor of Education from the University of Manitoba (University of Malaya) in 1953, and a Master of Education from the University of Malaya in 1961.
He studied singing and conducting privately with West.H. Anderson. He later served in that same capacity at Street Andrew"s United Church during the 1970s.
He joined the Education faculty at the University of Manitoba in 1967 where he taught for many years. In 1969 Belyea became conductor of The Choristers after the death of conductor Filmer Hubble.
He conducted the group until it disbanded in 1974, notably leading them in several performances broadcast nationally on Canadian Broadcasting Company Radio.