Who We Are

The Canberra City Band Inc is the leading community band organisation in Australia's capital city.

The organisation currently has three bands that all contribute to and serve the Canberra Community. In addition to the original Concert Band, the organisation includes Spectrum Big Band and the John Agnew Band.

Spectrum Big Band is a traditional style big band with trumpets, trombones, saxophones and rhythm section supplemented with vocals. It plays a 'spectrum' of styles from swing music for the dance community to funk, latin and modern big band charts. The band was originally established as the Canberra City Big Band in the early 80s under John Helgesen. At the time, this was the first community big band in Canberra, and the first youth big band to perform at the Merimbula Jazz Festival (1986), and was later renamed KickBrass. It disbanded in 1992 but was reformed in 1997 as Spectrum underGlen Rogers, changing its name to Spectrum Big Band in 2007 under Rod Mason OAM.

The John Agnew Band, established in 2008 as a junior/development band for young Canberrawind musicians, continues a long tradition of a feeder band for the Concert Band. The original 'juniors' training band had its first rehearsal on 1st March 1929 under J. Watson. In 1986, there were 3 junior bands (Junior A Division, Junior Intermediate and Junior B Division run by Keith Helgesen, John Agnew and Naida Blackley respectively).

Regular Events:

The Canberra City Band performs at many important events held annually in Canberra such as the ANZAC Day March, Australia Day, and Floriade. The Spectrum Big Band is a regular at Merimbula Jazz Festival and other regional jazz festivals and is available for corporate functions including balls and dinners.

Vision: “To serve the Canberra community by promoting the pursuit of excellence in musical performance.”

In order to support this objective, CCB Inc will:

support and foster appreciation and enjoyment of concert band and ensemble performance;maintain ensembles which will provide opportunities for the development of skills and musicianship;

assist members to develop their musical ability by providing a learning environment and contact with other musicians; and

provide support for civic and community activities through musical performance.

We accept invitations to play at major functions and events in Canberra such as industry award presentations, embassy functions, foreign dignitary visits, as well as open days, fetes, dinner dances and celebrations.

If you would like enquire about booking or playing with the Canberra City Band, please contact us. If you would like to enquire about booking or playing with Spectrum, please contact us.

Supported by the ACT Government

We are also supported by the C.I.T.