The next 100 years

NSW Police Concert Band

The Next 100 Years

As the year of centenary for the NSW Police Band arrived in 1995, the future of the Band looked very bright. The Band had now established itself in its purposed-built Band Centre at Stanmore in Sydney. During that year they performed at the Freedom of the City Ceremony, as well as various State-wide tours to celebrate their Centenary. A Centenary CD was also set for release that year.

It is interesting to note that in researching the Band's history, it was revealed that there had been over 300 Band members and that the Band had performed somewhere between 7700 and 8000 public engagements.

2000 And Beyond

The Police Band now faces more diverse challenges in the form of multi-skilling involving: computer skills, further training in non-musical as well as musical subjects and internal managements seminars. Included in this expansion of musical education is the use of computer applications and electronic music technology. These days it is also expected that the Band will provide increased support for Police social functions as well as community-based Policing activities. Self-management plays an increasingly larger role in modern Band administration, which, when combined with an increased accountability for all actions and expenditure, places an extra level of importance on Band management. The necessity of negotiation skills has been borne home with the advent of Enterprise Bargaining which, in the future, will probably affect Band working hours and work practices.


Special Constable John Saunders, Band Historian, with a Young student at a school workshop. (click to enlarge)	Jamming with jazz trumpeter James Morrison (click to enlarge)

Very highly regarded for their musical abilities, professionalism and diversity, the NSW Police Concert Band fulfils a key community relations function for the NSW Police. It is also regarded as the State Concert Band.

The Band's instrumentation includes woodwind, brass and percussion and therefore is considered a Concert Band rather than a Brass Band.

With such a broad range of instrumental expertise, the band is able to perform in a number of combinations including the complete Concert Band; a Parade or Marching Band and a large Dance Band among others.

In order to appeal to younger audiences, electronic instruments are used in a basic Rock Band and some of the players double as vocalists. On special occasions, well known musicians and singers have been known to perform with the Band.

Currently there are six Police and twenty eight Special Constables in the Band. The Band today has many functions. They include:

supporting police activities at ceremonial, community and social events
performing at State Government functions for visiting overseas and local dignitaries and at major parades, sporting functions and charity events
educating the general public, particularly the young, by promoting awareness of policing programs in schools and other public venues
supporting approved community activities such as concerts, parades and smaller group functions.

The NSW Police Concert Band is based at The Band Centre, Unit 4/31-41 Bridge Rd, Stanmore, 2048 and can be contacted on (02) 9557 2090, or e-mail: cour1gar@police.nsw.gov.au .

NSW Police Concert Band at a school workshop.