Charles Victor Foreman, French horn player and writer, was born in Butler Co .Ohio on May 11, 1909, son of C.J. Foreman and A.M. (Smith) Foreman.¹   He was educated in public schools and privately. He studied various brass instruments with Herman J. Bellstedt, Jr., and Carl Kohlmann at Cincinnati, Ohio then horn with Adolphe Seidler, of the Washington Marine Band. In 1935 he also had a few lessons with Jean Musick whom he had met at the Eastman School of Music, and was second horn in the Cincinnati Symphony.² He served four years as a bandsman of the United States Marine Corps (1927-31), and received a Good Conduct Medal and commendation for "Fidelity, Zeal and Obedience." He was first horn and librarian in the World's Largest Military Band (Quantico, Va) under General Smedly Butler's command. He also played in the ARMCO Concert Band under the direction of Dr. Frank Simon (season 1931-32). In a hand-written resume he wrote:

Has made extensive researches in the history and literature of music and was a contributor to The Etude, Jacob's Band-Orchestra Monthly, Melody, and other publications. Made a collection of Military Band Studies for Horn and many arrangements of solos, duets etc. Revised or edited over 1,000 works and arranged several hundred. Author: short stories, playlets, miscellaneous verses, etc.  Member of the American Federation of Musicians, corresponding member of "Société d'Histoire et de Geographie d'Haiti," Music Library Association, associate member of the American Musicological Society, United States Army and Navy Bandsmen's Association, Inc.

Chronological Summary of Professional Career

1927	Enlisted as a musician in United States Marine Corps
1931-32	2nd horn, ARMCO Concert Band, Cincinnati, OH under Dr. Frank Simon
1932	re-enlisted in United States Marine Corps., Principal Instructor, Marine Band School; stationed 17 months in Haiti
1936-37	Music Librarian and/or  Editor, The Western Music Library, and H.T. Fitzsimons Music Publishing Co., Chicago, IL.
1937	Instructor, Chicago Conservatory of Music (Extension)
1938	Tim McCoy's Real Wild West Show and Madison Square Garden Rodeo Band, New York, NY
1939-45	summer seasons, Col. Armin F. Hand Board of Trade Band, official band of the City of Chicago
1940-42	stage band Chicago Civic Opera Band Sgt. 1st Regiment Illinois Reserve Militia
1941	1st horn Max Bendix Band Chicago and various shows
1941-42	Illinois Symphony Orchestra, Chicago, Il., Izler Solomon, Leo Kopp, Franco Autori, Daniel Saidenberg, and Benjamin Britten, conductors
1942	1st horn and assistant bandmaster Illinois War Service Programs Band; September 8, re-enlisted in U.S. Marine Corps as Specialist to serve during National Emergency
1945	Feb. 16, Honorable Discharge from U.S. Marines ; Educational Music Bureau, Chicago, IL.
1945-46	San Antonio Symphony Orchestra, Dr. Max Reiter and Sir Thomas Beecham, conductors; Waco Symphony
1946	San Antonio Grand Opera Festival, Dr. Max Reiter; April 3, enlisted in The Official U.S. Air Force Band, Washington, D.C.
1949	re-enlisted in The Official U.S. Air Force Band
1952	re-enlisted in The Official U.S. Air Force Band
n.d.	Review Editor for "The Southern Musician"
n.d	1st horn, American Concert Orchestra

Mr. Foreman left high school after two years to join the United States Marines in 1927. He continued his education, however, by taking courses and earning certificates from numerous institutions:

1.  Band and Orchestra Conducting - Conn National School of Music, Chicago
2.  History of Music – University Extension Conservatory, Chicago
3.  History of Music – University of California, Berkeley
4.  Fundamental Economics and Social Philosophy – Henry George School of Social Science
5.  Principles of Protection or Free Trade – Henry George School of Social Science
6.  Technique of Magazine Article Writing – Comfort Writer’s Service, St. Louis
7.  Magazine Article Writing – The Magazine Institute, N.Y
8.  Library Cataloging – Oregon State System of Higher Education
9.  Library Science – University of New Mexico, Albuquerque
   

In 1951, while still a member of the U.S. Air Force, Mr. Foreman passed the high school-level and college-level General Educational Development (G.E.D) examinations administered through United States Armed Forces Institute.

On October 17, 1935, in a brave move even for a U.S. Marine, Sgt. Foreman wrote a charming letter introducing himself to Miss Tennie Webster, whom he had noticed pictured in a brochure for Conn Band Instruments. The brochure indicated that she was a horn player in the Woman's Symphony Orchestra of Chicago, which he had heard once on the radio. Apparently Miss Webster did indeed find the letter charming, for in less than a year they were married on June 12, 1936.

On February 29, 1956, Charles Victor Foreman retired from the Air Force at Lowry Field, Aurora, Colorado, citing health issues. He is not known to have played professionally afterward. He died in April 1982 in Arapahoe County, Colorado at the age of seventy-three.