McKinnon Secondary College was one of the first government schools in the state of Victoria to develop a Stage Band program. Over the years, McKinnon's music acclaimed Stage Band has won numerous awards in state competitions. For the past decade the Band, consisting of students from Year 9 - 12, has been directed by Mr Ian Orr, a professional performer on Trumpet and full-time teacher of Brass at McKinnon.

The Stage Band plays music from the Swing era of the 1930's, and 1940's, Jazz and contemporary music. The Band regularly performs at numerous functions in the wider community, some of which included: Department of Education, Jazz Clubs, Local and municipal functions, and the highly successful "Back-to-the -Fifties" Dance.

Since undertaking the leadership of the stage band Ian Orr has organised the very successful annual music tour of Regional Victoria where the Band has performed for schools and local communities. These tour are interactive and are aimed at developing relationships with other music students in rural areas, as well as enhancing McKinnon student's performance and presentation skills. The students are billeted with local families on these trips, which has enabled them to gain an insight into and a greater appreciation of rural Australia.

In 1998, the band toured the Northern Territory visiting Darwin and Arnhem Land where they stayed from several days a with the Aboriginal community of Yirrkala. They gave concerts for the local school community and McKinnon students participated in local dance ceremonies. They were also very privileged to be taken to the most sacred site in Arnhem Land. The tour afforded a unique opportunity for McKinnon students to learn something of living Aboriginal culture and tradition.

The year 2000 marked the first International Tour of the Band, which created new friendships and shared the international language of music.