View source for Royal New Zealand Air Force Band

{{Short description|Military band from New Zealand}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=July 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name= Royal New Zealand Air Force Band (RNZAF BAND)
|image=File:Military band at Dedication of the Australian Memorial.JPG
|caption=The band at the dedication of the Australian Memorial at [[National War Memorial (New Zealand)|Pukeahu National War Memorial Park]] on 20 April 2015.
|dates= 1994–present
|country= {{flag|New Zealand}}
|allegiance=
|branch= {{air force|New Zealand}}
|type= [[Military band|Military Band]]
|role=
|size=60
|command_structure=
|garrison=[[Wellington, New Zealand]]
|garrison_label=
|nickname= RNZAF Band
|motto=
|colours= Blue
|colors_label=
|anniversaries=
|decorations=
|battle_honours=
|disbanded=
|commander1=
|notable_commanders=Sir [[Frank Callaway]]
}}
The '''Royal New Zealand Air Force Band''' (formerly the '''Central Band of the Royal New Zealand Air Force''' until 2012) is the musical arm of the [[Royal New Zealand Air Force]], based in the capital of [[Wellington]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KdIVAQAAIAAJ&q=Royal+New+Zealand+Air+Force+Band|title = New Zealand Centennial News|year = 1938}}</ref> It is part of the Air Force Reserve, and is composed of part-time musicians.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://medium.com/@nzdefenceforce/drummer-cant-wait-to-be-part-of-air-force-band-concert-8702b2525d53| title = Drummer can't wait to be part of Air Force Band concert {{!}} by New Zealand Defence Force {{!}} Medium| date = 12 October 2017}}</ref>
It is a 65-member band that consists of the following ensembles:
*Parade Band
*Symphonic Band
**RNZAF Jazz Orchestra<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.undertheradar.co.nz/tour/4454/Royal-NZ-Airforce-Band.utr | title=Royal NZ Airforce Band - Tours at Undertheradar }}</ref>
*Woodwind Trio
*Clarinet Quartet
*Brass ensemble
*5-piece Dance ensemble<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/nzlive/audio/2018663563/nz-live-the-rnzaf-band|title = NZ Live: The RNZAF Band|website = [[Radio New Zealand]]|date = 21 September 2018}}</ref>
Throughout the years, the RNZAF Band have worked with musical organizations and units such as the civilian [[New Zealand Symphony Orchestra]] and [[Orchestra Wellington]] [[Jan Van der Roost]] as well as the [[United States Air Force Band]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.music.af.mil/Bands/ArticleView/Article/427900/joining-forces-with-the-royal-new-zealand-af-band/|title=Joining Forces with the Royal New Zealand A.F. Band}}</ref> A notable member of the band includes [[Frank Callaway]], an [[Australia]]-born [[music]] [[educator]] and [[Academic administration|administrator]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IWcJAQAAMAAJ&q=Royal+New+Zealand+Air+Force+Band|title = Music Education: International Viewpoints : A Symposium in Honour of Emeritus Professor Sir Frank Callaway|isbn = 9780959630466|last1 = Comte|first1 = Martin|year = 1994}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.isme.org/en/isme-s-4th-honorary-president-sir-frank-callaway/sir-frank-callaway-an-appreci-2.html |title=Sir Frank Callaway – an Appreciation - International Society for Music Education |website=www.isme.org |access-date=13 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080728172621/http://www.isme.org/en/isme-s-4th-honorary-president-sir-frank-callaway/sir-frank-callaway-an-appreci-2.html |archive-date=28 July 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
==History and contemporary duties==
The band was formed in 1935, when the RNZAF was still known as the New Zealand Permanent Air Force of the [[Royal Air Force]] of [[United Kingdom|Britain]]. When it became an independent service in 1937, the band gave their first public engagement during a [[Coronation of George VI and Elizabeth|1937 coronation]] parade. During [[World War II]], the RNZAF band toured New Zealand to perform for airman and in 1944 toured the Pacific to increase the morale of Kiwi soldiers and [[Air warfare of World War II|air warfare forces]] in the [[Pacific War]]. In 1945, the band was disestablished, but was later re-formed in 1951 as a reservist unit. In 2012, it was one of three bands spared in the government cutback on military bands.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/|title=Scrapping of military bands a 'national scandal'|first=Isaac Davison Social Issues Reporter, NZ Herald|last=isaac.davison@nzherald.co.nz @isaac_davison|date=April 26, 2012|via=www.nzherald.co.nz}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/brass-and-pipe-bands/page-2|title = Military bands, 1900 onwards}}</ref>
Many members of the band are graduates of the [[New Zealand School of Music]]. The band maintains a regular schedule of [[public duties]] in Wellington, the national capital. As such, it has the unique ability to perform for the arrival of international dignitaries and national [[ANZAC Day]] services. During the 4-year [[First World War centenary]], the band's buglers played at over 1,200 [[Last Post]] [[bugle call]]s from all the way until [[Armistice Day]] in 2018.  Members of the band have provided music at significant commemorations around the world, including at locations in [[Turkey]], [[Crete]], [[France]] and [[Belgium]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.airforce.mil.nz/nr/exeres/23de8324-47f8-4b0c-8ea7-6b6fb32f1cc6,frameless.htm@nrmode=published.htm|title=Royal New Zealand Air Force}}</ref>
==See also==
*[[New Zealand Army Band]]
*[[Royal Australian Air Force Band]]
*[[Central Band of the Royal Air Force]]
*[[Band of the Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Royal New Zealand Air Force]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1937]]
[[Category:1937 establishments in New Zealand]]
[[Category:Military bands of New Zealand]]
[[Category:Wind bands]]
[[Category:Air force bands]]
== External links ==
* {{Commons-inline}}