School Band

The band was founded in 1863, during the reign of the Rev. James Quaker as principal, as a fife and drums band. The band quickly demonstrated a high quality of the flute playing, even in those earlier days. The band has since then been involved in school celebrations, prize-giving ceremonies and thanksgiving march-pasts.

In 1882, upon the death of Rev. J. Quaker, the new principal, the Rev. Obadiah Moore, improved the fife and drums band into a brass and reeds band with the introduction of instruments previously unknown to the band. However, due to the deterioration of the set of instruments, the band had to close down in 1915.

The CMS Grammar School Old Boys thought it fit that the school should keep it tradition of a brass band and in 1924, the principal of the school, the Rev. Canon T.C. John, himself a former bandsman, supported the Old Boys to resurrect the school band. In 1926, One Hundred Pounds had been raised and new band instruments were bought. These instruments arrived in 1928 and the band unveiled the new instruments on March 16, 1928 and the instruments were used on the Foundation Day, March 25, 1928 at St. George’s Cathedral with Mr. E. F. W. Smart, an old boy and secretary of the Band Fund, being appointed the Band Master of the CMS Grammar School Brass Band.

Over the years, Regentonian Old Boys have made contributions to the school band on various occasions by donating sets of band instruments. Most recently, the SLGS Old Boys in the USA and UK donated a set of up to 50 pieces of band instruments and accessories to the band, for which we are very grateful. These instruments have gone a long way in sustaining the playing capability of the band and as such up keeping its performance levels.

Throughout the history of the SLGS Band, it has always enjoyed the support of the Principal of the school. From the very beginning, when the Rev. J. Quaker founded the fife and drums band, to the development of the band into a brass and reed band by Rev. O. Moore, to the resurrection of the band by Rev. Canon T.C. John, to the massive contributions done by our Principal Emeritus, Mr. A. J. Lasite, the principals of the school have maintained the unique responsibility of overall governance of the band. In fact, before the introduction of the role of Bandmaster, the principal of the school were directly in charge of the band.

The School Band has also continued to perform in annual celebrations of other secondary school, including those of the Annie Walsh Memorial School and the Methodist Boys’ High School, exhibiting a very high sense of discipline coupled with good quality brass music production. The band is always a favourite in thanksgiving march-pasts for it lively marches and organization.
The band strives to enhance its capabilities on a daily basis and performance after performance; we see the results of our efforts. However, the process of improving on the quality of the band’s production would have been severely hampered had it not being for the regular and timely intervention of our very vibrant Old Boys Union and our Principal.

I would like to take this opportunity, on behalf of the entire membership of the band, to say thanks to the union, especially the UK and USA branches, and the Principal for their continued support towards the furtherance of not only the school band but more importantly, the tradition of brass band music within the Regentonian family and the country as a whole. I would also like to say a somewhat special thank you to Mr. Chrispin P. O’Connor, a bandsman and Chairman of the Band Committee that facilitated the donation of the latest set of instruments.

I thank you all.

Mr. Dennis S. Williams,
Bandmaster, SLGS Brass Band

Band FAQs

Q: How to book the band?
A: The band is booked for performances through the office of the Principal of the School.

Q: What types of performances does the band play at?
A: The band plays at thanksgiving processions, funeral processions, wedding ceremonies and float parades.

Q: How do I become a member of the band?
A: Membership of the band is open to all Regentonian. The prospective bandsman should report at the band’s practice sessions held on every Saturday at the School. The applicant will then be tutored on basic music theory, if he is not already musically inclined, and will then be assigned to an instrument which he will practice.

After undergoing the compulsory probation period, the recruit bandsman will be given a series of tests to evaluate performance; a satisfactory outcome will enable the recruit bandsman to start playing in public performances with the band. Recruit bandsmen usually play in white long-sleeved shirts and white trousers along with the school tie / bow and the band hat. Full band uniforms are issued to recruit bandsmen who have demonstrated ability in playing his assigned instrument and could, at least, play hymns and some simple marches. The recruit bandsman becomes a full bandsman when he is issued his full set of uniforms (regular and ceremonial).

Q: What can I play in the band?
A: The band is made of brass, woodwind and percussion sections. Prospective bandsmen can choose to play in any of these sections; with the following instruments in the respective sections:
– Brass (trumpets, cornets, French horns, English horns, trombones, euphoniums, baritones, tubas, sousaphones)
– Woodwind (clarinets, alto saxophones, tenor saxophones)
– Percussion (side drums, cymbals, triangles, bass drums, staff / mace)

Q: Is the band a member of the National Secondary Schools Brass Band Association (NSSBBA)?
A: Yes, the band is a member of the National Secondary Schools Brass Band Association (NSSBBA).

Q: How much does it cost to hire the band?
A: Band hiring fees are in accordance with the fees prescribed from time to time by the National Secondary Schools Brass Band Association (NSSBBA) for thanksgiving march past performances, funeral processions and wedding ceremonies.

Q: What are the terms of engagement of the band?
A:

Q: Who are in the band’s executive?
A: