50 euro - 75th Anniversary of the Malta National Band Club Association

In Malta and Gozo there are around ninety-one band clubs. The oldest bands in Malta, which were probably inspired by the presence of British military bands on the island, came into existence around the second half of the nineteenth century. Some of the oldest band clubs actually started out as social circles, referred to as the 'circolo' or 'casino'. Over time the 'casini' developed a musical component, becoming the band clubs we know today. Various attempts to form an overarching association affiliating all the Maltese band clubs failed. A renewed attempt was made in 1947 when Michael-Angelo Delia, of the St Joseph Band Club of Ħamrun invited all the band clubs of Malta and Gozo to send delegates to attend a convention intended to set up an association of all band clubs. A meeting was held on 16 September 1947 and a statute was drawn up to govern the new association. The statute was approved on 11 January 1948 and the association was named 'The Malta Band Clubs' Association'. In 1975 the Association became styled as the 'Għaqda Każini tal-Banda'.