This Sunday, September 27, the spacious esplanade of the Main Cathedral of the Russian Armed Forces showcased the grand finale of the 10th anniversary season of the Military Bands in the City Parks project, presented by the Spasskaya Tower International Military Music Festival. Three of Russia’s leading military bands took the stage, bringing the 2026 celebration of music to a spectacular close.
Breathtaking drill formations, timeless classics, and vibrant contemporary hits came together in one spectacular performance.
The concert got underway with the bright, ceremonial sound of the May 9 fanfare, performed by musicians of the 1st Semyonovsky Regiment under the lead of Major Sergei Didenko. Their program mixed traditional military music with familiar popular songs. The Amur Waves waltz, vivid Smuglyanka song, By the Long Road, Moscow Windows and other pieces were genuine favorites with the audience. The concert also featured solo performances by Ekaterina Taran and Konstantin Makurin, which stood out as some of the evening’s highlights.
The program continued with a performance by the 21st Military Band of the Moscow Military District, led by its bandmaster and artistic director, Lieutenant Colonel Oleg Tyshuk, together with military conductor Captain Alexey Suslov. The ensemble took the audience on a musical journey through different eras and genres. Meanwhile, the expert skills of soloists Roman Pilipenko and Anastasia Karasyova added some lively touch.
A spectacular highlight of the ensemble’s program was a drilling performance set to a plethora of songs dedicated to Moscow. Military musicians showcased their exceptional precision, discipline, and drill skills to such iconic favorites as My Dear Moscow, I Walk Around Moscow, Moscow, the Bells Are Ringing, The Best City in the World, Moscow Calling, Alexandra, and I Love You, Moscow. Goodbye, Moscow composition brought the band’s program to a close, becoming the performance’s symbolic ending.
The grandiose concert concluded with the Suvorov Cadet Band of the Moscow Military Music College named after Lieutenant General Valery Khalilov. Led by military bandmasters and teachers Mikhail Kuslin and Vyacheslav Sladkov, these young and very talented musicians presented a varied program, with Luigi Denza’s Funiculì, Funiculà, Sergei Trofimov’s Motherland and Alexei Garnizov’s Time Has Chosen Us becoming the evening’s highlights.
The young musicians also won the audience over with a dynamic military drill display. Precise formations, intricate maneuvers, and polished drumming took center stage. The performance moved quickly from one musical style to another — from marches based on themes by Isaac Dunayevsky to the Moon Waltz and a modern arrangement of Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.
The drummers added another burst of energy, with their Fiesta sketch becoming one of the most dynamic moments of the drilling. The music seemed to flow along with the rapid strokes of the sticks.
“Over the summer and into early autumn, military musicians gave Moscow residents and visitors dozens of opportunities to enjoy live music. Eighteen concerts were held in parks and other
The closing concert at the Main Cathedral of the Russian Armed Forces brought the season to a spectacular finale. Today’s program had it all — emotional musical pieces and solo performances, military marches, and impressive drill displays.
The final note may have sounded, but the music goes on. We look forward to seeing you again next season!” said Mr Sergei Smirnov, head of the Directorate of the Spasskaya Tower International Military Music Festival.
With the support of the Russian Ministry of Defense, the Military Band Service of the Russian Armed Forces and Moscow’s Department of Culture, the Spasskaya Tower Festival Directorate continues to champion one of the most enduring and cherished musical traditions: bringing the pageantry, energy, and artistry of military bands to city parks.