Central Military Band of the Ministry of Defense of Russia


Central Military Band of the Ministry of Defense of Russia, also known as the Red Army Band is a military band unit of the Russian Armed Forces. It is a branch of the Military Band Service of the Armed Forces of Russia. The current head of the band is Colonel Sergey Durygin.

Brief history

Even as the Presidential Band of the Russian Federation is the more senior military band of Russia, the CMB-MDR is the seniormost band in the Russian Armed Forces and the oldest active band in service, having been founded on October 1, 1927. It was founded as part of the overall changes in the organization of military bands of the then Soviet Armed Forces, given the lack of a full-time band that would serve as the official band of the entire armed forces proper. It was formed inside the Moscow Central House of Officers of the Red Army. After the reform of the military in the later 1940s, the name of the band was changed to the Independent Exemplary Band of the Ministry of Defense

Activities and Collaborations

The band participates in social, and cultural events of Russia. It is a permanent participamy in the Spasskaya Tower Military Music Festival and Tattoo. The band regularly performs in the Grand Kremlin Palace, the Spasskaya Tower Festival, and parades on Red Square. The central band actively tours the globe, and has made appearances in Algeria, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Great Britain, Germany, Denmark, Israel, Italy, China, North Korea, Mongolia, Norway, Poland, the U.S., France, Switzerland, and Sweden. Among the individuals who have been associated with the band include former Canadian Army director of music Kenneth Snoeck. It also collaborates extensively with the Moscow & District Pipe Band. The Central Band is required to take part in the Russian Honor Parade on Red Square on November 7. In February 2020, the Central Military Band staged a concert to honor the 77th anniversary of Battle of Stalingrad in the Volgograd Philarmonia.

Directors of Music

Senior Director of Music

Historically, since 1924, the Senior Director of Music of the Armed Forces has been the ceremonial chief of the band. In the Spasskaya Tower Military Music Festival and Tattoo editions of 2007, 2009 and 2010 the Central Band's Bandmaster, then Col Andrey Kolotushkin, served as the band conductor. Today, the director of music does not hold the post of Senior Director of Music of the Military Band Service in a concurrent capacity, as that post leads the overall direction and organization of all the active bands in the armed services.