When I first became the Director of the Navy Band in 2002, the band was an entirely different organisation to the one that I left ten years later.
After some careful analysis, we redefined the environment that we operated in, changed our customer model, and aligned our mission with that of our primary customer (Navy). This enabled us to reinvigorate our role within Navy.
An example of reinvigorating our role was evident during ship farewell and welcome ceremonies. These ceremonies were attended by the ship’s company, their loved ones, and political and national leaders. For most of my early career we saw this role as entertaining the families as they said their goodbyes or when welcoming their loved one’s home. We played modern pop tunes and mostly British marches (these marches were a common part of our heritage). Sometimes we would perform in a concert band formation and other times we would form a parade band; but mostly, we played an informal supporting role in the background.
In 2002 we envisioned a different role that was more in tune with our mission and customer model. These ceremonies became a major part of the band’s ceremonial and musical contribution to Navy and the Nation. In place of pop tunes and British marches we played popular Australia songs and marches by Australian composers. This added a more suitable Australian feel to those important occasions. When the ship was about to depart the wharf, we would play Advance Australia Fair followed by I Am Australian or My Country. As the ship stood off from the wharf, we played Waltzing Matilda as she got underway to commence her mission. Those performances were enhanced by using one of our many talented vocalists and sometimes, if personnel numbers permitted, a full fanfare team.
We went from the background to play an important central role in those ceremonies.
On every one of those occasions there wasn’t a dry eye to be seen. The level of pride in Navy and Australia was significantly enhanced by our contribution and this was evident in all those who attended.
We went on to redefine our role at ship commissioning and decommissioning ceremonies. The band became a major feature on the national and naval ceremonial stage.
When was the last time you examined what it is that you do, where you are headed, and how you plan to get there?
Advance Australia Fair:
https://youtu.be/A-Oho8I4sJk
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