Our story

The Dundee Instrumental Band is a charity and community ensemble. Its current structure was established in the 1960s but its roots can be traced back to bands in the late 19th century. Active in the local community, the band regularly plays across Dundee and farther afield, offering free summer concerts in the city and performing at annual civic events, such as Remembrance Sunday and Christmas services.

​

​The Dundee Instrumental Band was formerly known as St Margaret's band - aka St Margaret's Old Silver Band, St Margaret's (Dundee) and St Margaret's (Lochee) - but it retains the reference to the saint in its official name. As St Margaret's, the band competed in its first contest in Arbroath in 1895, where conductor George Miller lead the band to 4th place with "Eurkeka". 

​

Who was St Margaret?

St Margaret of Scotland (c. 1045–1093) was an English-born princess who became queen of Scotland after fleeing north – traditionally said to have first landed near Dundee – in the wake of the Norman Conquest. Married to King Malcolm III, she used her position to reform the Scottish church, promote education and introduce European cultural ideas to the royal court. Known for her intense personal piety, she founded churches, cared directly for the poor, and helped make Scotland more closely connected to the wider Christian world. Revered even during her lifetime, she was canonised in 1250 and remains one of the most significant figures in Scotland’s religious and cultural history.

​​

The band is particularly proud to have forged links with HMS Unicorn, the world's third-oldest battleship still afloat. The Dundee Naval Band was founded in the late 19th century on HMS Unicorn, and when it disbanded, the players were absorbed into what would become the Dundee Instrumental (St Margaret's) Band. We continue to enjoy a strong connection with the Unicorn - pictured below is the 2024 "When the Brazen Bands Shall Play" concert at The Discovery Centre in Dundee, commissioned by The Unicorn Preservation Society with assistance from the Imperial War Museums' 14-18 NOW Legacy Fund.

​

​Today, the Dundee Instrumental Band stands as Dundee’s premier brass band, renowned for its rich musicality, dynamic performances and charitable efforts. Its enduring legacy and continued excellence hold a special place in the cultural fabric of Dundee, showcasing the vibrant local talent and the city’s ongoing appreciation for brass music.

​