Active from:
1915
Role:
Music
Specialism:
Symphonic Wind Band
The Band of the Welsh Guards is comprised of musicians from The Royal Corps of Army Music and is one of 14 Regular Army Bands in the British Army. Based in Central London, its main tasks include Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace and performing for The Queen’s Birthday Parade.
The Band of the Welsh Guards was formed in 1915 in the same year as the Regiment. Their first instruments were presented by the City of Cardiff, an act that enabled the band to carry out its first King’s Guard Mounting on St. David’s Day in 1916. That very evening, the band gave its first concert on the stage of the London Opera House and immediately established a reputation for high musical standards.
Appearances on the BBC's ‘Songs of Praise’ and at prestigious sporting events like the Ashes, the FA Cup Final, the Rugby Union World Cup, Royal Ascot, Tour de France, Wimbledon, and the International Show Jumping Championship at Spruce Meadows, Canada, have taken the band’s music to a worldwide audience.
The band maintains its links with the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards' traditional recruiting areas with regular public concert performances in the heart of Wales in aid of recognised military charities, music workshops in Welsh schools and music services.
The Royal Corps of Army Music can offer full time employment as a musician within the British Army. A pensionable career potentially to the age of 60. Fantastic travel opportunities with the chance to perform at great venues and events around the world.
The Royal Corps of Army Music is interested in your performance and potential rather than just music qualifications.
Not all musicians have recognised musical qualifications so you may be able to join us based on merit at audition. If you have the required skills or can demonstrate you have the potential we are looking for, we can help maximise your musical development. Interested? Please get in touch here.
Musician Howard - Clarinet
Musician (Musn) Hazel Howard started playing the clarinet whilst at school in North Wales. From an early age she has shown a keen interest in all things creative and displayed her skills through performing in county wind bands, painting, textiles and photography. Musn Howard developed her creative skills whilst studying photography at the University of Central Lancashire.
Whilst at University, Musn Howard successfully applied to join the Army Reserves and after completing her training, joined the Band of the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment in Liverpool. In 2016 she moved to Yorkshire and transferred to the Royal Signals (Northern) Band in Darlington. During her time in the Army Reserves, she has performed across the United Kingdom and has had the privilege of visiting the Falkland Islands, Germany, Gibraltar, Guernsey and Finland. Musn Howard has worked alongside Regular Army Bands and had the opportunity to attend several Adventurous Training trips where she learnt to ski. Whilst enjoying all the Army Reserves has to offer, Musn Howard continued developing her passion for art as a freelance photographer, photographing musicians, weddings and portraits.
In 2019, Musn Howard moved to London to continue her photography business but as COVID-19 put an immediate stop on any photography projects, she decided to join The Royal Corps of Army Music as a Regular soldier and was assigned to the Band of the Welsh Guards. Some career highlights include performing in The Queen’s Birthday Parade in Windsor and on Horseguards Parade, the National Act of Remembrance at the Cenotaph, Scarlet and Gold concerts and Basel Tattoo, Switzerland.
Musn Howard was deployed for five weeks during the pandemic on Op RESCRIPT in support of the Royal Hospital Chelsea as part of Military Aid to Civil Authorities taskings.
Becoming a full time musician will give me the opportunity to continue to develop my creativity, in a job I love.
