The Royal Marines Association Concert Band was formed in June 2006 in response to demand and commenced rehearsals with 35 musicians at Whale Island.  Today the band's home is the Royal Marines Museum at Eastney - arguably the world's finest band room! -  And its membership now exceeds 60 players. They give about twelve public concerts each year in support of Royal Marines' charities, and in 2007 represented UK at the Torrevieja Music Festival in Spain. They also played that year at the Falklands 25 commemoration event in London.  Each September they perform at the RMA Reunion.

 

 

 

They have released two CDs of popular marches and light music ('Once A Marine.....' and '......Always A Marine');  each CD is priced at £12- incl p+p.  They have recently recorded 'The Pompey Chimes' for Portsmouth Football Club which has been released as a single track album (price £4-). These three CDs may be ordered via RMA Central Office (02392-651519) or online from Eastney Collection at www.eastneycollection.com

 

 

                 

 

A further CD, 'Farewell Haslar' was recorded in early October and will be released by Christmas.  In January 2009 the band will return to the recording studio once again to produce their fifth album.

The band's president is Admiral Sir Jock Slater GCB LVO DL a former First Sea Lord

Captain Ted Whealing MVO BA ARAM ARCM LTCL RM, a past director of music of the Royal Yacht band and of the Royal British Legion, is the band's Director of Music and is no stranger to concert goers and record collectors throughout Britain.

 

A list of the band's forthcoming concerts, as arranged so far, is below:

Date	Location	Time	Box Office	Prices
Thursday 6th November 2008	White Ensign Association reception, HMS Illustrious	1830	By invitation only	-
Thursday 20th November	Portsmouth Cathedral	1945	02392-892962	£12-
Saturday 13th December	Strode Theatre, Street, Somerset	1930	01458-442846	£12-
Sunday 15th February 2009	Anvil Theatre, Basingstoke, Hants	1500	01256-844244	TBA
Sunday 22nd February	Medina Theatre, Newport, Isle of Wight	1500	01983-527020	TBA
Sunday 22nd March	Orchard Theatre, Dartford, Kent	1500	01322-220000	TBA
Sunday 19th April	Octagon Theatre, Yeovil, Somerset	1500	01935-442884	TBA
Sunday 17th May	The Guildhall, Portsmouth (with the Milton Glee Club)	1500	02392-824355	TBA
Thursday 21st May	Royal Marines Museum, Eastney, Southsea	1930	02392-819335	£12-
Sunday 16th August	Ferneham Hall, Fareham, Hants	1500	01329-231942	£13-, £14-, £15-
Thursday 17th September	Royal Marines Museum, Eastney, Southsea	1930	02392-819335	£12-
Sunday 20th September	The Lighthouse, Poole, Dorset	1500	0844-406-8666	Approx £10- to £16-
26-27 September	RMA Reunion at CTCRM Lympstone, Devon	TBA	RMA members and their families only	Free