Our History

Early performances were not auspicious

When the band was first formed in 1890 at the request of Commissioner Thomas B. Coombs, its beginnings were anything but polished. Staff Bandmaster Jeremiah Eunson gathered eight officers, three comrades, and Willie the messenger from The Salvation Army’s Territorial Headquarters — most of them with little or no musical experience. It is unlikely that their efforts would have gained commendation from musicians, but this was the infant group which grew to maturity and became the now accomplished Melbourne Staff Band (MSB).

Eunson, the only trained musician, took on the task of arranging the music, training the players, and conducting the group. Early reviews were modest, with one 1890 report humorously noting that the band “managed to get over one tune successfully while Major Barritt begged for the collection.” 

Progress was rapid

By 1899, when the MSB travelled interstate to support the visit of General William Booth, reporters were already praising its “spirited playing, perfect harmony and brilliant execution of the music.” Since then, across more than 135 years, the band has undergone six name changes and been led by 11 staff bandmasters, yet its commitment to excellence and ministry has remained unchanged.

A band on the world stage

The MSB has often been at the forefront of innovation. By 1924 it was broadcasting on radio, in 1929 it produced its first recording, and in 1959 it embarked on its first overseas tour to New Zealand. Under the leadership of Staff Bandmaster Colin Woods, the band’s reputation grew on the world stage, most notably during the 1978 UK tour and The Salvation Army’s International Congress in London, where composer Kevin Norbury described the MSB as “the finest Army band I’ve heard in the last 10 years.”

Staff Bandmaster Ken Waterworth led the band through an era where a new approach was required, introducing the well regarded ‘routines’. These routines once again put the band at the forefront of innovation and are still talked about to this day.

Over the decades, the MSB’s international influence has expanded through tours across the UK, Europe, Canada, the USA, New Zealand, and Korea.

Using music to share the message of Christ

Recordings remain a regular feature of its ministry, but they are never the ultimate goal. The heart of the band’s work continues to be its service: supporting major Salvation Army events, partnering with leading musicians from Australia and abroad, and bringing the Gospel to life in towns and cities across the nation, whether in concert halls, corps buildings, or on the streets. 

Through every chapter of its history, one truth has remained constant: God has been at the centre, guiding and sustaining the Melbourne Staff Band. While proud of its history and tradition, the Melbourne Staff Band presses forward with the same conviction it was founded upon — that music can be a powerful and innovative way to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. With every note played, the band seeks to glorify God, proclaim his love, and offer a relevant and living message of hope to today’s world.