Army

Corps of Army Music Celebrates 20th Anniversary

The Corps of Army Music is celebrating its 20th Anniversary this year and today (Friday) the Corps and the Royal Military School of Music were given the opportunity by the council to exercise their right to the Freedom of the Borough of Richmond upon Thames by marching through the streets of Twickenham.

250 members of the Corps and a number of bands supported the event with the Mayor, Councillor Jane Boulton, inspecting the troops outside York House before the march around the town commenced.

The parade was then followed by a thanksgiving at St Mary’s Church, Twickenham and a formal reception in York house for members of the Corps and local dignitaries.

The Corps of Army Music was formed in 1994 following a Defence Review and in 2014 following another review further changes to the structure of the Corps of Army Music have taken place in order to make Army Music more relevant to the modern Army’s needs.

This has included the introduction of 3 Rock and Pop bands, 3 brass bands and a full-time string orchestra as well as maintaining heritage and military music across a further 18 full-time bands.

The Royal Military School of Music has been at Kneller Hall close to Twickenham for over 150 years and is currently the home for both Headquarters Corps of Army Music and the training centre for Army Music.

The Director of the Corps of Army Music, Colonel Barry Jenkins said;

"This was a fantastic way to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Corps of Army Music and I believe that Army Music is in great shape for the future in support of the Army and has the ability to promote the UK around the world. Music is a truly global language and should be enjoyed by everyone, everywhere."

More information about Army Music is available on the website: www.army.mod.uk/concerts