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Phone: 01747 851947 |
Wessex Military Band |
History of the BandThe Wessex Military Band originally formed as the Wessex Youth Band in September 1980 from the ashes of the Beaminster Brass Band. Rehearsals were held in a cold, Spartan barn at Norburton Manor. Members were drawn from Primary schools in West Dorset with many of the youngsters having to share instruments and receiving tuition in the back of the band coach.
Initially the band had three sections, a brass band, a corps of drums and a majorette troop. After four years the majorette troop was disbanded in order for the band to concentrate on its musical development.
In 1986 the band undertook its first overseas engagement when it visited Holtzwiekede in Germany and played at the Dalinhofen Schutzenfest. The band improved rapidly and its reputation spread all over Wessex and further a field.
In 1990 the Army Air Corps, who had no official Regimental Band, requested that the band form into a voluntary Army band. After a period of intensive recruitment thirty members of the Wessex Youth Band joined by another thirty new members formed the Army Air Corps Band and were based at Middle Wallop. During the Gulf War there were only two Guards Bands and the Army Air Corps Band in the country. The band was therefore in great demand and performed all over the south of England. They appeared at the Albert Hall on two occasions and played for TJRH Prince Charles and HIRH the Duke of Kent.
In 1990 the Army Air Corps formed a full time band and the voluntary band was disbanded. However they reformed as the Wessex Military Band. Since 1993 the Wessex Military Band has increased in size and now has over 90 musicians. It normally visits Germany about four times a year to play at various festivals and International Music Shows in Hanover and Berlin. In 1999 the band played at a military band tattoo in Avenches in Switzerland. Since then the band has gone from strength to strength.
To contact the band directly please ring the Band directly on 01308 425010 or use the Booking Page.
Can I see them in action?
For further information plus a list of gigs click here most of their gigs are public. |
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Formed over twenty years ago this military Band plays throughout Great Britain and Continental Europe. At all types of events from simple village fetes, town parades to major international Tattoo’s and concerts at such venues as the Albert Hall.
The band regularly does combined concerts with the 76th USA Army Band, Pipes & Drums of the Royal Ghurkha Rifles.
Style of Music they playMarches, classical tunes and extracts from operas and other orchestral works. |
Areas & Towns will they travel toWessex Military Band play across Wessex i.e. Somerset, Dorset & Hampshire. Local venues played at include Bournemouth International Centre (BIC), Southampton Guild Hall, Fairfield Hall Croydon, City Hall Salisbury, Bridport Arts centre. They perform throughout southern England. |
Type of events they normally playMost of their gigs are at Fetes and Carnival but regularly attend major tattoos. They play in Germany each year at a number of Beer Festivals and Schutzenfests. |
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Site last updated Wednesday, 24 December 2008 |
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