About GMP

GMP Band

The Greater Manchester Police Band came about as a result of a fiasco. The Manchester City Police Band as it was then known was hired to play at the funeral of a policeman who was killed on duty in the 1870s, and it played so badly that it prompted musicians within the City Police to form their own.

In 1968 the band became the Manchester and Salford Police Band, and with the amalgamation of Police forces, in 1974, it was again renamed as the Greater Manchester Police Band. The musicians comprise of serving and retired police officers, support staff from the police and civilian members of the community, which boasts to be one of the best wind bands in the North West.

All the players are volunteers and give up their spare time to be part of the band.

As well as the wind band, the GMP band has an 18 piece "big band", playing music by Glenn Miller and the swing era, also the Ceremonial Trumpeters play regularly at civic functions and high profile engagements.

The current Director of Music of the band is Geoff Williams ARCM, BBCM, who prior to joining the police served for 18 years in professional army music. Geoff joined The Kings Regiment as their principal cornet/trumpet player in 1977 and later was selected to undergo training at The Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall as a student bandmaster. On completion of the three year course Geoff was then appointed as the bandmaster to the regimental band of The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment), up to his retirement in 1994. It was in 1995 when Geoff joined Greater Manchester police as a full time police officer.

To contact Geoff please contact 0161 856 6833 or send a message to the Police Band.

New Players wanted

GMP Band are looking for new players to fill the ranks of the Wind Band and also the "Big Band".

If you are a tuba, percussionist or cornet/trumpet player, and of a good standard, the band would like to hear from you.

The band are very busy playing around the county for many different types of events, and are an excellent ambassador for GMP.

Interested? If so, please contact the band's Director of Music, Geoff Williams for an audition/interview, on 0161 856 4747 or 0781 8014261. Alternatively use our feedback form and select 'Police Band' in the destination field.


And the Beat Goes On

And the Beat Goes On was released in 2008 from the 16-piece Greater Manchester Police Big Band. The CD contains 15 tracks including the vocals of several GMP staff who have performed in the West End.
 

Concert Favourites

Released in 2010, Concert Favourites contains 13 tracks including "The Simpsons" theme tune, a Michael Jackson medley and music from Les Miserables and Symphonic Marches.
 

 

How to Buy

Copies of And The Beat Goes On and Concert Favourites are available to purchase at a cost of £6 which includes postage and packaging.