Established by long-time Band Secretary and principal cornet Bob Goodier at his farewell dinner in 2000, the award of the Note is intended to honor the "unsung heroes" of the band - those who quietly go about demonstrating musicianship and dedication without necessarily being in the forefront of the group. At the end of each season, the current holder of the Note chooses the next recipient.

Originally, the Note was a simple brass paperweight, unframed and unadorned. After being passed on for a couple of years, the Note began to visibly deteriorate and was framed in order to preserve it. It has become a tradition for each recipient of the Note to sign the back of the frame.

Recipients