For 30 years Corsham Windband Association has entertained audiences as far away as Germany and Norway, but its roots will always be firmly in the town where it was started.

The group celebrates its 30th anniversary next month with a weekend of events to mark the special occasion.

It was formed out of The Corsham School Windband which first performed in March 1981, after its founder Professor Sonia Blandford took it to a bigger audience in the town.

It is run by volunteers and performs at fetes, celebrations, Christmas and French markets in Corsham, Melksham, Chippenham and surrounding villages and for officers and sergeants at Dining In nights in military bases .

Since 1994 it has had a permanent home at The Pound arts centre in Corsham, ending a peripatetic life in The Corsham School, Corsham Fire Station, Corsham Youth Centre, Corsham Court’s West Wing and the former Box Highlands School.

Prof Blandford said: “Over 1,000 musicians aged from five to 25 have participated in the band’s many and varied concerts.”

Tours from 1981 until 2006 have included visits to Corsham’s twin town – Jargeau, and Strasbourg, in France, Swabisch Gmund, Rhinedahlan and Cologne, in Germany, Barcelona, in Spain, and Mandal, in Norway.

Hosting and performing concerts with American semi-professional and amateur bands and choirs from New York State, Minnesota, Chicago and Kentucky were a highlight of the band’s summers in 1990s.

The Windband Association is currently comprises three windbands – Training, Spectrum and Youth Concert Band, each performing a repertoire of traditional windband music to musicals, pop and television themes.

Success at major national and international festivals include reaching the finals of the National Festival of Music for Youth, British Symphonic Band Association Festival and the International Harmonie Bands Festival at Strasbourg.

Many musicians have passed up to grade eight exams with several progressing to music colleges to become professional musicians in major concert orchestras, bands and theatres, including the City of Selville Orchestra, the Royal Scottish Philharmonic Orchestra, Desford Colliery Band, Strasbourg Harmonie Band, Grimethorpe Colliery Band, Yeovil Town Band and London Palladium.

Several headteachers are former members, some occasionally return to play at Christmas or summer concerts. One former band member, Neil West, is now head of music for online music store iTunes.

The 30th anniversary celebrations on March 26 include an open morning, 10am to noon at The Pound; an open rehearsal at Corsham School, 2pm to 5pm; and a performance at the school at 7pm.