Scotch College

Lots of pomp and plenty of circumstance

The Military Band comes of age with an international tour.

Words and Photography: Bradley Wells • Bandmaster

Nearly 50 years after its inception, the Scotch College Military Band came of age this year by completing an international tour to the home of military music and all that is ‘pomp and circumstance’ – the United Kingdom.

Over two weeks, 30 boys and three staff from the band had a busy and exciting schedule visiting, performing at and being hosted by a variety of military, educational and civic institutions.

On the military front, the boys paraded with the Scots Guards at Wellington Barracks in London and performed with the Life Guards at Windsor. They also gained rare access to the Military School of Music at the famous Kneller Hall.

On the educational front, the boys spent a day at Christ’s Hospital School, which coincided with their annual march past and visit from the Duke of Gloucester. Inspired by the sight of the school’s 120-strong marching band, which parades the school into lunch every day, our boys gave a lunchtime concert in ‘big school’ which was extremely well received.

In the continuing spirit of service, the band also gave a concert at a disadvantaged inner-London primary school, where, in addition to the regular repertoire, excerpts from Thomas the Tank Engine and The Simpsons were real crowd pleasers.

There were also several major public performances. The Summer Proms Concert at Holy Trinity Brompton brought a standing ovation from over 1,000 people, while the bandstand performance at Victoria Embankment Gardens in busy inner London was popular with city workers and tourists alike. The tour reached a fitting climax with the final parade and performance at the World Heritage–listed Blenheim Palace.

While there was certainly much pomp and many a memorable circumstance, the real highlight of the tour was to see the boys carry themselves with such distinction and bring such honour to themselves and their School, while at the same time opening up their minds and appreciation of the world around them. Oh, and it was great fun too.

More information and images from the tour are available from the Military Band’s website at: www.scotch.vic.edu.au/Service/milband/index.htm GS