Voluntary Bands

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	RAF Waddington Band	RAF St Athan Band
	The primary role of RAF Voluntary Bands is to provide music for ceremonial and social occasions at RAF units. The Bands do, however, perform at many functions in their local areas; many of the engagements the Bands undertakes are in aid of local and national charities. The Bands rehearse in the evenings and at lunchtimes and performs in they own time: They are all, with one or two exceptions, amateur musicians who are either serving in the RAF, or another of the Armed Services, at one of the units within a band’s catchment area (or "clutch"), or are civilians living local to the RAF unit at which the particular band is based. The Bands wear a uniform that is based on that of a RAF airman or NCO, with a "lyre" worn on the sleeve and the cap instead of normal Air Force badges of rank. Serving members of the Armed Forces wear their own uniforms, no matter what the hue or style. Many of the civilians are former members of the RAF, while others work at RAF units, but many have no connection with the Services save for being members of a RAF Voluntary Band. They do, however, have one overwhelming thing in common - the enthusiasm to join together to make music! The only full-time member of each Band is the Voluntary Band Instructor (VBI), or Bandmaster, who is a Civil Servant appointed by the Unit. The VBIs are not only responsible for rehearsing and conducting their respective bands, they also manage the music; organise the transport; book the engagements and (most importantly) ensures that the musicians are regularly fed and watered! Getting some 30 musicians in the right place at the right time with all the necessary music, instruments and uniforms is never easy, but through our VBI’s dedicated hard work the RAF Voluntary Bands have never failed yet. The RAF Voluntary Bands are usually concert wind bands (some are brass bands) and often military marching bands as well. The concert wind band is probably the most versatile of all instrumental ensembles. It consists of all types of brass and woodwind instruments, from the cornet to the tuba, and the piccolo to the baritone saxophone supported, of course, by percussion. Bands are able to perform a wide range of music from the marches of Sousa to the film themes of John Williams. The presence of a saxophone section provides the extra colour needed for rhythm & blues, or big band, numbers, while the versatile trumpets add brilliance to dance band pieces and well-known pop tunes. The euphoniums and baritones provide a traditional brass band touch while the range of the clarinets does justice to the show numbers. Some of the Bands also run their own big bands, smaller instrumental groups and fanfare teams.
	RAF Wyton Band, Freedom Parade, Huntingdon	RAF Halton Band, Eastbourne Airshow