The Central Navy Band of Russia

The Central Navy Band's history

The Central Navy Band, more properly known as "The N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov Central Concert Orchestra of the Russian Navy", is the premier Band of the Russian Navy, carrying the traditions of its 65 years of history into the modern era.

On 23 December 1941, during the war against the fascists, the commander of the Ulyanovsk Naval Equipage (Crew) № 53 founded a musical group and appointed technical intendant Alexander M. Karpey-Lazarev as a military conductor. The group was composed mostly of front-line seamen who had arrived from hospitals just after treatment of their wounds. They performed until the had regained sufficent health to return to combat service. On 26 May 1942, the musical group was transformed into an official military band of the Moscow Naval Equipage. On 10 July 1943, by the Navy Commissar's Order № 02328, Major Alexander Ivanovich Tsvetkov was appointed as the conductor of the Moscow Naval Equipage Band. His supervision over the Band lasted until 13 October 1944. With the purpose to improve professional training of musicians for the Navy's bands, in October 1944 the Band of the Moscow Naval Equipage was transformed to a Separate Educational Band of the Navy Commissar under direction of Major Georgiy Pavlovich Ivanov. On 6 September 1945 the Separate Educational Band of the Navy Commissar was inspected. The results of the inspection were so good that by the order of the Deputy Naval Commissar of 18 September 1945, the Separate Educational Band was renamed into a Separate Exemplary Band of the Navy Commissar, and its staff was increased accordingly. Major Ivanov was honored with a special award, and the best musicians were also awarded. Since these very early years, at various times the conductors or directors of the Band have included the following officers:

Maestro Rimsky-Korsakov, in naval uniform

	· Major Georgiy Pavlovich Ivanov
	· Honored Worker of the Arts of the Latvian Republic,       Lieutenant Colonel Michael Vladimirovich Sosnovsky
	· Honored Worker of the Arts of the Azerbaijan Republic,       Lieutenant Colonel Dmitry Mikhailovich Lein
	· 1953-1970: Honored Artist of the Russian Republic,       Colonel Georgy Petrovich Alyavdin       Photo Album of the Alyavdin Years
	· 1970-1976: Lieutenant Colonel Boris Elizarovich Levin       Photo Album of the Levin Years
	· 1976-1997: People's Artist of the Russian Federation,       Captain Vladimir Mikhailovich Solodakhin       Photo Album of the Solodakhin Years
	· 1997-2007: People's Artist of the Russian Federation,       Captain Alexander Sergeevich Danilchenko       Photo Album of the Danilchenko Years

The Central Navy Band today is a leading artistic collective of the Armed Forces of Russia. It is well known not only in Russia but also internationally - in Austria, Germany, France, Great Britain, Sweden, Finland, the USA, Egypt and Ethiopia.

In 1993, the year of 150th anniversary of the birth of the great Russian composer, and seaman, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, the Moscow Government conferred on the Central Navy Band the honorific name of "N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov" for their great achievements in musical performing art.

The activities of the Band are diverse and include regular performances with concert programs, recordings, radio, performances on TV, concerts with leading actors and musicians of Russia, and participation in various international festivals.

The Ensemble of Central Navy Band consists of 98 people. There are several sections: Symphony Band, Vocal Group, Russian Folk Group, Singer & Soloists, and Brass Ensemble. The main section of the Band is the Symphony Band - its repertoire consists largely of classical music.

· Since 2007 the Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of the Central Navy Band is Honored Artist of Russia Captain Alexei Alexeevich Karabanov. He is assisted by the Sergeant-Major of the Band, Warrant Officer Alexei Petrovich Trofimov.
· The Deputy Band Director and Conductor is Lieutenant Colonel Alexey Nikolaevich Samokhvalov.
· The Military Conductor is Lieutenant Colonel Igor Veniaminovich Kokorinov.