Director: Tom Skjellum

Obra libre:"Sinfonietta No.2.", de Philip Sparke.

    This symphonic band was founded in 1926 is currently celebrating its 75th anniversary.

    It was started by a group of 20 youths who had reached the maximum age for the school band. One year after its founding, the band took part in its first tradional parade behind its new standard (a greek lyre on blue silk with the band name).

    The famous Norwegian composer, Johannes Hansen, directed the band for a short period in the mid-1930‘s. Over the years, the band became increasingly ambitious and in 1954 it won first prize at an international competition in Holland.

    After several relatively inactive years, the band took the important step of admitting women players in 1968. As a result, some 19 new players joined – one of whom was a saxophonist who went on to become band director in 1979 – Tom Skjellum.

    A newly-formed symphonic group won the second section of a Norwegian national competition in 1972. Holger Gulbranusen, a member of the band, was nominated director and under his leadership the band won 15 first prizes and two second prizes, in national and international competitions.

    After just one year as director, Tom Skjellum ensured that the band won the national competition in 1980. One year later, the band won the marching competition in the Kerkade international contest in Holland – an achievement it repeated again four years later. During the 1980‘s, the band won many national and international competitions and became Nordic champion.

    The following decade reached it highpoint in 1996, when the band marked its 70^th anniversary and was invited to New York by Norwegian emigrants to help celebrate Norway Day.