Author: Jeremy de Korte (VBL Vice President)

The Victorian Bands’ League was officially established on the 10^th of April 1931 by a large grouping of bands based in the Melbourne Metropolitan area.   While the band movement had been long-established by this time, the previous association, the then Victorian Bands’ Association (1900-1933), had lost the confidence of Victorian bands and by the early 1930s a new association was started.  History will tell us that the new V.B.L. quickly established themselves and by the end of 1931 had gained the affiliation of most Victorian Bands.

By the middle of 1933 when the report of the V.B.L. was presented at the second Annual General Meeting, a total of sixty bands were listed as affiliated with the League – twenty-nine Metropolitan bands and thirty-one bands based in the country.  Additionally, the V.B.L was recognized as the official band association in Victoria by the Royal South Street Society and it had gained the affiliation of all the interstate band associations.  Because of this, the band sections at South Street resumed in 1932 after an eight-year hiatus.

Such was the strength of the V.B.L. that they were able to stage several spectacular events at the Melbourne Cricket Ground which involved bands from across the state.  They also administered band contests across the State with the South Street contests being regarded as the most prestigious in Australasia.  South Street also hosted several National Band contests which are held on a rotating basis with other Australian states.

From its inception, the V.B.L. has continued to host innovative events and establish fine State-based ensembles.  In 1957, a “Champion Concert Band” which was comprised of the best brass and percussion musicians at the time, presented a one-off concert.  The Victorian State Youth Brass Band, established in 1978, continues to promote the young in our band movement with their involvement in a high-quality brass band.  In the early 1980s, the V.B.L. started affiliating concert bands in the League and including these ensembles in contests.

Now under the leadership of President Megan Stapleton, the V.B.L. continues to innovate with a strong program of events and contests.  The annual BandStand Sunday event is a highlight of the Victorian band movement calendar and bands from across Victoria have participated over the years.  Attendance by bands, small ensembles and solo musicians at various contests continues to rise, and Victoria takes a leading role with regards to administration and promotion of history of the movement.  With the centenary of the V.B.L. approaching in 2031, we look forward to the near future of the Victorian band movement and the League.