Royal Artillery Band

The Royal Artillery Band is a British military band (and former symphony orchestra) originating in 1557, but granted official status in 1762. Consisting of woodwind, brass, and percussion instruments (and until 2014, also stringed instruments), it represents both the Royal Regiment of Artillery, and the state. It was, until 9 February 2014, one of eight state bands, based in London. It has the distinction of being the oldest military band in continuous service in the United Kingdom, as confirmed by records from the Ordnance Office, now held by the Ministry of Defence, the Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall, and documents in the possession of the Royal Artillery Band. The Royal Artillery Orchestra (of the Royal Artillery Band) [disbanded on 9 February 2014] was Britain's first professional orchestra.

It was announced on 30 July 2013 that the Royal Artillery Orchestra would cease to exist in favour of a forthcoming 'State String Orchestra', known as 'The Countess of Wessex's String Orchestra' following the most recent cuts to Army Music.

On Sunday 9 February 2014, the Royal Artillery Band, and a specially formed 'Veterans of the Royal Artillery Band' paraded on General Gordon's Square for the last time in their home town of Woolwich, thus ending a 252-year era, before relocating to join their regiment at Tidworth Barracks, Wiltshire The Band spent Christmas 2013 in Afghanistan, where they carried out their wartime role [1], as well as continuing to entertain the troops, and accompanying such celebrities as Gary Barlow, and Katherine Jenkins. Its former accommodation in the historic Georgian Royal Artillery Barracks is now the home of the 24-piece Countess of Wessex's String Orchestra.

The Royal Artillery Band served as the musical arm of the artillery branch of the British Army (the Royal Regiment of Artillery).

In May 1660, the Lifeguards had their 'unofficial' kettledrums and trumpets. They also formed a band proper in 1763 after the end of the Seven Years' War. The Grenadier Guards had their 'unofficial' fifes and drums in 1685 (some accounts state 1665), but their band proper was not founded until 1783 along with two other "bands of the Foot Guards".

It was announced in a press release by CAMUS on 29 July 2013, that all orchestral capability in British Army bands would be terminated [2] in favour of a new 24-piece 'State String Orchestra'.

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