Ukrainian musicians perform with Royal Marines Band

Ukrainian military musicians have performed alongside the Massed Bands of His Majesty’s Royal Marines for the first time at the Mountbatten Festival of Music at the Royal Albert Hall, according to a news update.

The festival, held over the weekend, saw 11 Ukrainian musicians join Royal Marines Bands from Portsmouth, Collingwood, Scotland, and the Commando Training Centre (CTCRM) for a joint performance of ‘The Rise of the Ukrainian Sun’, an arrangement of three traditional Ukrainian pieces. The Ukrainian musicians, known as the ‘Unbreakable’ Band, are from The Honored Academic Orchestra and The Band of the Military Musical Centre of the Land Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Colonel Ihor Kishman, Chief of Ukrainian Armed Forces Music, said it was a privilege to perform in the UK.

“We are so proud to have performed in the UK and to have represented our Armed Forces to such an amazing audience,” he said in the news update.

“The Mountbatten Festival of Music has given us a wonderful opportunity to strengthen, celebrate and publicise the partnership between Ukraine and the UK through the universal language of music. Performing the music we play for our brave troops and civilians in this iconic venue has been wonderful.”

Lieutenant Colonel Huw Williams RM, Principal Director of Music for RMBS, described the collaboration as a success.

“We don’t speak each other’s language, but there are no such barriers in music and the performance came together brilliantly,” he said. “Their courage, friendship and musicianship is inspiring to us all.”

The Mountbatten Festival of Music has been held at the Royal Albert Hall for 53 years and showcases the Massed Bands of the Royal Marines. This year’s event featured a mix of traditional and modern music, including Bohemian Rhapsody, ‘In the Hall of the Mountain King’, and ‘Curtain Call’, a medley of West End hits.

The world-famous Corps of Drums also performed ‘Impossible’, a piece by former Corps Bandmaster Ivan Hutchinson, featuring Norwegian composer Thomas Bergersen. The festival continues to bring together military musicians from around the world in a shared celebration of music and tradition.