The formation of the Corps of Army Music was triggered by a Defence review known as Options for Change in the early 1990s and followed a 1993 announcement by the Chief of the General Staff that the number of Army bands was to reduce from 69 to 29.  Her Majesty The Queen signed a warrant on 13th August 1994 to allow formation of the Corps of Army Music.  It was Her will and pleasure that all officers who were Directors of Music in the various Corps and Regiments and that all Army musicians should transfer to the Corps of Army Music - now the newest and most junior Corps in the Army - on 1st September 1994.

It was a natural development that the home of the Corps should be at Kneller Hall in Twickenham, a site that encompasses the Headquarters of the Corps of Army Music and the Royal Military School of Music.  The site has been used as a centre of music education since, soon after his appointment as Commander in Chief, His Royal Highness Field Marshal the Duke of Cambridge founded a 'Class of Music' in 1857, an establishment that was graciously retitled as the Royal Military School of Music in the Golden Jubilee year of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, 1887.  A plaque to commemorate the Centenary of the School's opening was unveiled by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 1957 and, on the occasion of its 150th Anniversary, Her Majesty was further pleased to appoint Her Royal Highness the Countess of Wessex as Colonel in Chief.  Colonel Commandants of the Corps have been Lieutenant General A M D Palmer CB CBE (1999 to 2005) and Major General T N Tyler CB (2005 to 2009).  Major General D J Rutherford-Jones is to assume the role later this year. 

The role of HQ CAMUS is to give direction and professional advice on Army music matters and develop and sustain the ethos of Army musicians wherever they serve in order to assist the Army's contribution to current and future defence capability. 

Bands wear the cap badges of employing Corps and Divisions or Regiments of infantry and provide musical support subject to their availability as directed by Commander Regional Forces.  Their major operational role is to provide a chemical decontamination capability in support of the Army Medical Services. 

The Royal Military School of Music plays a vital role for the Bands of the Army in shaping the attitudes, values and standards of musicians and in training those who are selected for the Bandmaster's Course. 

Also within Kneller Hall is a well-regarded collection of musical instruments and material for educational purposes: development of this collection is underway with a view to it becoming a fully-fledged Corps Museum.  TA Bands sit outside CAMUS.

The Future Army Structures review of 2006 saw the bands of the Regular Army reduced from 30 to 24 including that of the Brigade of Gurkhas, the only CAMUS member of which is its Director of Music.  The Corps was further reduced in 2007 with the loss of the Band of the Royal Irish Regiment under NI normalization.  There are now 23 Bands of the Regular Army.

Todays modern military musicians are extremely capable and multi talented.  Not only is there marching and symphonic concert bands but almost any other musical ensemble:

• Jazz
• Rock & Pop
• Strings/ Orchestra
• Classical Groups
• Big Bands
• Ceilidh
• Pianists
• Soul and Funk Bands
• Fanfare Trumpets
• Mounted Bands

The contemporary side of Army music can be seen at our annual RHYTHM FORCE Rock and Pop Concert on the 25 September 2010.