About us

The Victoria Military Music Festival Society was established in 1993, a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to the presentation and promotion of military music events in our community.

The first Victoria Military Music Festival was held in 1994 during the month before the Commonwealth Games.

Performers that year included the Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines School of Music, Royal New South Wales Pipes and Drums and Dancers, US Navy Band Seattle, Canadian Scottish Regiment, Seaforth Highlanders of Canada and the Calgary Highlanders.

In 1998 the Society presented separate concerts by the Prince of Wales (Clive) Band and the United States Army Field Band and Soldiers’ Chorus.

In 1999, the Society began a series of concerts in advance of Bandfest 2000 – Military Music Festival. These concerts were given by the Grenadier Guards Band, Welsh Guards Band and 1^st Bn. The Highlanders Pipes and Drums. Local musicians included Kitangus (Celtic Group) and Tanya Elizabeth (Fiddler).

Also in 1999, the Society partnered with the City of Victoria, Maritime Forces Pacific, Hudson Bay Company and others, to create the Sunset Tattoo in Beacon Hill Park which featured the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) Naden Band, Royal Regiment of Canada Band, 48^th Highlanders of Canada Pipes and Drums, Vancouver Firefighters Band, and antique horse-drawn fire apparatus.

In 2000 the series of spring concerts included the US Airmen of Note, CFB Trenton Pipes and Drums with John Allan Cameron, the world champion Simon Fraser University Pipe Band, and the first Tri-Service concert in the Royal Theatre by the Naden Band, Royal Canadian Artillery Band (RCA) (Edmonton) and the Air Command Band (Winnipeg).

Bandfest 2000 took place in Victoria and at Fort Rodd Hill. Festival performers included the 3d Marine Aircraft Wing Band from California, 15^th Field Regiment Band (Vancouver), with the Canadian Scottish Regiment Pipes and Drums and the Naden Band, and the Bon Accord Highland Dancers.

Bandfest 2001 included overseas performers the Invercargill Caledonian Pipe Band from New Zealand, a return visit by the US Marine Band, the RCA Band, Air Command Band, Seaforth Highlanders of Canada and Canadian Scottish Regiment Pipes and Drums and the RCN Naden Band.

Bandfest 2002 included the Bagad Lann-Bihoue French Navy Pipe Band, US Navy Band Northwest, The Calgary Highlanders, Lord Strathcona’s Horse Musical Ride accompanied by the 5^th Regiment Band, RCN Naden Band and Canadian Scottish Regiment Pipes and Drums.

Bandfest 2003 guest bands include the RCA Band, Royal Canadian Mounted Place (RCMP) Pipes and Drums, Simon Fraser University Pipe Band.

The central event of Bandfest 2005 was an outdoor Musical Spectacular at Royal Athletic Park featuring the Lowland Band of the Scottish Division, Lord Strathcona’s Horse Musical Ride, and the Canadian Scottish Regiment Pipes and Drums.

In 2006 the Society presented Beating Retreat at the lawns of the BC Legislature in recognition of the 90^th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme. A massed pipe band representing the units from the 16^th Battalion (Canadian Scottish) included the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders of Canada, Cameron Highlanders of Canada, Seaforth Highlanders of Canada and Canadian Scottish Regiment with the Naden Band.

In 2009 the Society presented the RCMP Musical Ride at the Victoria Polo Club in Central Saanich. Guest bands were the Albert Head Cadets and Greater Victoria Police Pipe Band.

In 2010 the Society presented a special concert at the Royal Theatre by Her Majesty’s Royal Marines Band Portsmouth.

Pacific Tattoo 2012 was held at Bear Mountain Arena, featuring the Naden Band, massed pipes and drums, Fanfarenzug Freckenhorst (Germany) Seattle Chinese Community Girls Drill Team, local choirs and ethnic dancers, and more.

Pacific Tattoo 2013 was held at Save On Foods Memorial Centre and featured the Johan Friso Kapel Royal Netherlands Army Band, RCN Naden Band, RCMP Drill Team, Victoria Firefighters display, vocalist Ken Lavigne, and international massed police pipes and drums and dancers.

The Canada 150 RCMP Musical Ride 2017 Vancouver Island appearances were at Victoria at Topaz Park and in Colwood at Royal Roads University Grounds. Both Ride performances were augmented by the 5th (BC) Field Regiment, RCA, Band, Westshore Community Band, and pipe band made up the 78th Fraser Highlanders, 400 Squadron, RCAF, and Canadian Scottish Association.

Following the pandemic, Sunset Ceremony 2022 was held at Topaz Park celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Performers included the Lord Strathcona’s Horse Mounted Troop, RCN Naden Band, Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada, 400 Squadron, RCAF, and Canadian Scottish Regiment.

Military Music Spectacle 2023 at Topaz Park celebrated the Coronation of King Charles III. The assembled massed pipe band featured the Calgary Highlanders Regimental Pipes & Drums & Dancers, 400 Tactical Helicopter Squadron Pipes & Drums from Borden, ON and the Canadian Scottish Regiment Pipes & Drums. Brass-reed bands were the RCN Naden Band and the Third Marine Aircraft Wing Band from Miramar, CA. Additional features were a display by world-class drum majors, and the world premiere performance of a Forces tribute song “The Piper Must Be Paid” by Eric Elison.

Fortissimo Victoria 2024 at Topaz Park featured the return of the Third Marine Aircraft Wing Band, joining the RCN Naden Band and the Canadian Scottish Regiment Pipes and Drums, with guest performance by the University of Washington Huskies Drum Line.

Through our musical programs we endeavor to support organizations whose programs focus on assisting individuals, couples, spouses, surviving spouses, and children of those who serve or have served our country and communities.

VMMFS Executive Committee

Roger McGuire (Chairman)
Wayne Dauphinee (Secretary-Treasurer)
Scott Attridge (Director)

2024 Production Team

Producer – Roger McGuire
Director – Carl McLean
Music Coordinator – Scott Attridge
Media Coordinator, Script Writer and Master of Ceremonies – Gerry Pash
Website/Social Media Administrator – Wayne Dauphinee