Grenadier Guards Band 

The Band of the Grenadier Guards is one of the oldest and most famous military bands in the world. It has a vast and illustrious history dating back over 300 years where it was formed under the rule of King Charles II on his return to power from exile. King Charles II restored not only the Monarchy to England but also patronage of the arts, not least by laying the foundations of the Band of the Grenadier Guards when he commissioned twelve ‘hautbois’ (oboe) players to the First Regiment of Foot Guards in 1685.

The Regiment was to become known as the Grenadier Guards after their victory on the battlefield at Waterloo. The death of King Charles II in 1685 was so significant for the band that until the Second World War, the Bass Drummer (known officially as The Regimental Timebeater), wore a black armband in mourning of the king's death.

The Band of the Grenadier Guards has been filling the streets of London with pomp and ceremony for over three centuries, and is a truly historic sight and sound. The Band has served 15 monarchs over 325 years with dedication and pride and it has been present at all the major royal occasions: births, coronations, weddings and funerals. The Band has been a witness to all London's key historic events, both tragic and joyful; it raised morale during the darkest hours of the Second World War and its uplifting music ushered in a new beginning at the coronation of the present queen.

The "British Grenadiers March” is one of the most recognisable and memorable tunes in the world and is part of Britain's musical heritage. One of the band's admirers during the 18th century was George Frideric Handel – so much so that he presented the march from Scipio to the regiment before including it in his opera of that name when it was first performed in 1726. George II gave Handel the task of re-scoring the Music for the Royal Fireworks, most commonly performed with strings, for the king's own musicians, who were wind players from his foot guards. Handel would have undoubtedly come into contact with musicians from the Grenadier Guards during the first performance at Vauxhall Gardens in 1749.

Throughout the history of the United Kingdom the music of the Grenadier Guards has been the backdrop to its national life and identity and the band carries this tradition on with precision and pride.

The Regimental Band of the Grenadier Guards - December 2020

Director of Music:

Captain B Mason

Bandmaster:

Warrant Officer Class II P Andersson

Band Sergeant Major:

Warrant Officer Class II D Buckles

Flutes / Piccolos:

Lance Corporal A Higginson (Principal)

Musician J Redman

Oboe:

Lance Sergeant P Batai

Clarinets:

Lance Sergeant D Wong (Principal)

Colour Sergeant D Hull

Lance Sergeant M Langmaid

Lance Corporal V Cater-Graham

Lance Corporal R Ellard

Saxophones:

Lance Corporal C Barber (Principal)

Lance Sergeant N Turner

Lance Corporal N Duffield

Musician A Kucharczak

Musician K Kucharczak

Bassoon:

Sergeant J Burton (Principal)

Lance Corporal K Lawson

Horns:

Colour Sergeant J Rowles (Principal)

Lance Sergeant A Garner

Lance Sergeant D Pile-Gray

Lance Corporal S Jolly

Cornets / Trumpets:

Lance Sergeant B Beavis (Principal)

Sergeant G Hall

Lance Sergeant O Duffield

Lance Sergeant L Narhkom

Lance Corporal M Thomas

Musician R Coates

Musician D Griffiths

Musician S Henderson

Musician G Hirst

Trombones:

Sergeant S Moore (Principal)

Sergeant M Gray

Lance Corporal D Byrne

Musician C Hibberd

Bass Trombones:

Lance Corporal J Pearson

Musician M Denney

Euphoniums:

Lance Sergeant S Bradbury (Principal)

Musician S Brunyee

Tubas:

Lance Sergeant I Shepherd (Principal)

Lance Sergeant P Matthews

Musician L Wrycraft

Double Bass

Musician A Rouse

Percussion:

Colour Sergeant M Dichello (Principal)

Lance Corporal R Dewey