Members of the Malta Police Band leave for Catania today for their first overseas performance.

Band director Inspector Anthony Cassar who was conducting a rehearsal of the 30 musical pieces for the Catania programme at the Police Academy in Fort St Elmo yesterday, said the band was greatly looking forward to the Sicilian invitation.

Mr Cassar was particularly proud to note that the components of the band had increased from 45 to 61 since the recent Malta Police Week.

This, he said, reflected the enthusiasm of band members who often had to make a sacrifice to carry out their police duties while at the same time cope with commitments with the band, often during their free time.

The police musicians, including two women - a clarinettist and the singer - come from various branches and sections of the corps. The average age is around 25.

The band will be issuing their second CD soon. The first performance by the band in Sicily will be a march in the main streets of Biancavilla to be followed by a musical concert in Piazza Rome today.

Tomorrow, the band will present a military parade throughout Viale Vittorio Emmanuele and will later present another musical concert in Piazza Umberto I.

On Monday, the band will conduct another military parade along the streets in the Comune of Belpasso and will present its final concert again in Piazza Roma.

The band returns to Malta on Tuesday.

Members intensified rehearsals with Mro Cassar over the last two weeks.

After the Sicilian visit, the band will embark on preparations for its participation in the September 8 celebrations in Malta and for the Military Tattoo in Valletta with the Armed Forces of Malta and foreign military bands in October.

The Malta Police Band was set up 86 year ago in 1919 by the then Police Commissioner Lt Col Harry William Bamford. It was re-organised in June 1994.