Article Posted on : - Aug 26, 2009

A File Photo of the Indian Military Band

NEW DELHI (PTI): An Indian Army music band will participate in the five-day International Military Music Festival in Moscow starting September 6.

"On invitation of the organising committee of the Kremlin Zoria Music Festival, a 44-member Indian Army band will leave for Moscow on September 1," Army officials said.

The team, officials said, comprises two officers and two Junior Commissioned Officers along with 40 jawans. The band would be conducted by Subedar Major Vijay Singh.

"During the five-day festival, over 1,000 musicians from military bands will perform at the historical Red Square near Kremlin, which houses Russian Parliament," they said.

Bands from Switzerland, Finland, Austria, Ukraine, Italy, Great Britain, and Kazakhstan are expected to participate in the second edition of the festival, the first of which was inaugurated by then Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In the recent past, the Indian Army band has participated in various military tattoos and music festivals in countries such as France, Italy, Sweden, Japan, Malaysia, Chile, Germany, United Kingdom, Bhutan, Nepal and Bangladesh.