Lieutenant Commander Keith Anderson, LTCL, RNZN
Director of Music
Band of the Royal New Zealand Navy
Lieutenant Commander Keith Anderson was appointed as Director of Music of the Band of the Royal New Zealand Navy on 3 July 1999 after an illustrious career in the Australian Army Band Corps.
Lieutenant Commander Anderson enlisted into the Australian Army as a trumpeter in 1974 and was immediately posted to the Band of the 3rd Military District based in Melbourne. It was during this time in Melbourne that he developed his passion for conducting, and was subsequently appointed as Director of Music of both the Box Hill City Brass Band, and the Doncaster and Templestowe Concert Band.
After ten years as Principal Trumpet with the Band of the 3rd Military District Lieutenant Commander Anderson was posted to the Australian Defence Force School of Music (DFSM), where he taught trumpet, harmony, and aural training to Defence Force Music students. Whilst at the DFSM he successfully completed the Assistant Band Leader Course and was subsequently invited to attend the Band Officer Course.
During his career in Australia Lieutenant Commander Anderson was appointed as Bandmaster of Army Bands in Tasmania, Darwin and Brisbane, with his major influences being two of his former Music Directors in Melbourne, Lieutenant Colonel Barry Bignell and Lieutenant Colonel Peter Jackson.
Since his appointment as the Director of Music the Navy Band has moved into a new custom built music complex, toured South Korea, and Australia. Several of his musicians have performed in France, and Gallipoli and will enjoy a New Zealand Memorial Commemoration in London during November. He has also enjoyed a good relationship with the Concert Band Association being the inaugural conductor of the first National Concert Band of New Zealand as well as being an adjudicator for the Association.
Lieutenant Commander Anderson is married with two children and four grandchildren.