The International Military Music Society is an association of national branches and individual members. The goal of the society is to encourage interest in all aspects of military and wind band music, and to foster world wide communication between its members.

Origin

The decision to found a society devoted exclusively to specific musical interests was taken in 1976 by members of the Band Section of the Military Historical Society, when Mr. George Brinckley and Mr. HarryPlunkett were authorized to proceed with preliminary enquiries and arrangements. It had been decided to authenticate the new society by appointing an Honorary President, of prominence in military band circles. The present holder of the appointment is Knight 1st Class. Royal Norwegian Order of Merit Trevor J. Ford, LLCM, F.Comp. ASMC

Development

The early enrolment of members was principally from the United Kingdom and Canada followed by the inception of branches in Continental Europe, The United States and Australia. The society was at first administrated from London, but in 1985 the Netherlands Branch proposed an international governing body, having regard to 75% of the membership from the Continent or overseas. The present International Committee came into force on 1st January 1988, on the basis of one representative member from each branch.

IMMS Today

In more recent years the society has expanded further to include branches and members from all over the world. The present membership amounts around 1300 from 38 different countries.

In addition to this central IMMS web site there are also national web sites for France (www.immsfrance.fr), Italy (www.immsitalia.it), Netherlands (www.imms.nl), Poland (www.imms.pl) and United Kingdom (www.imms-uk.org.uk). All members receive the IMMS magazine, "Band International", which is published in three editions each year. The society is at present working on several different projects such as a jubilee CD in which every member country will be represented and also a cross-reference index for all the editions of Band International since its inception. It will also be noticed that branches, which do not have their own web site, are represented with their own page in this central IMMS web site.