Made up of former members from the seven regiments of Her Majesty’s Household Division: the bands of the Life Guards, Blues and Royals, Grenadiers, Coldstream, Scots, Irish and Welsh Guards, the present Guards Association Band follows the long tradition of music making by these famous regiments.
The concept of creating the current band was the brainchild of Band Secretary Mike Milard. On leaving the Band of the Irish Guards he decided that something had to be done to harness and bring together the talent and expertise of the former musicians of the brigade of Guards.
Most ex-members were still playing in leading London Orchestras, London theatres or teaching in music schools and colleges. The response to the idea was immediate with the result that by 1981 first rehearsals had begun and today the Association now numbers over 90 members of the highest standard and able to perform the widest repertoires in the right combinations.
Thus exciting and varied programmes are produced by Wind Quintet, Brass Quintet and Dance Band whilst a balanced ensemble of wind and percussion can be heard in the Concert Band.
Today’s musicians follow the tradition of the great Dan Godfrey the conductor of the Grenadiers Band who in 1872 led them as the first ever British Army band to tour abroad and perform at the Grand International Peace Festival at Boston to mark the end of the American Civil War.
Incidentally, Godfrey was the first bandmaster to be commissioned with the rank of Honorary 2nd Lieutenant, his commission personally signed by Queen Victoria in 1887.
The present Concert Band performs at numerous public engagements including The Chelsea Flower Show. The Orchestra also plays at Royal Investitures, the Mansion House, Guildhall and various other City functions.