For the First Time Ever the Military Band of the Royal Guard of Oman Will Participate in the “Spasskaya Tower” Festival

XI International Military Music Festival “Spasskaya Tower” is going to be held in Moscow on Red Square from August 24 till September 2. For the first time ever the Military Band of the Royal Guard and the Special Arts Troupe of the Sultanate of Oman will take part in the Festival.

Musician who will perform in Moscow have been selected from four Band Squadrons of the Military Music Service of Oman. Their performance will be accompanied by the Special Arts Troupe.

The Military Music Service of the Royal Guard of Oman consists of a large number of diverse and authentic military bands.

There are four Military Squadrons including an all-female band and two big bands (informally known as jazz bands) Military Choir Group and Steel Band and Military Bands Corps, as well as Military School of Music, two orchestras, Opera Choir and various specialized departments for recording, composing and arranging.

The Royal Guard of Oman has participated in various events all over the world including military music festivals in Edinburgh, Sydney and Melbourne as well as Germany.

Members of the Military Band of the Royal Guard have also performed in Corsica, Croatia, Egypt, England, France, Italy, Switzerland, the UAE, Bahrein and Brunei. The Pipes and Drums competed in three international pipes and drums competitions in Scotland achieving very high standards.

Along with musicians of the Military Band of the Royal Guard Moscow will visit Head of the Military Music Service of Oman Brigadier General Ramis Juma’am al Oweira.

Brigadier Ramis’ career started as a bagpipe player of the first Band Squadron of the Royal Guard of Oman. Then he added saxophone playing to his skills and was sent to the United Kingdom to undertake a Bandmaster Course at both — Royal Marine School of Music, Deal and Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall. He successfully qualified as the first Omani Director of Music with Diplomas in Theory, Composition and Teaching of Music.

Brigadier Ramis oversees the activities of several bands: the Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra, the Muscat Royal Philharmonic, an opera chorus, four military bands, a choir, a jazz orchestra and steelpan band.

He is currently responsible for the musical content at all state functions and oversees the bands performances abroad including Great Britain, France, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Spain, Croatia, Egypt, the UAE, Bahrein and Australia.

Brigadier Ramis was awarded the Order of Achievement in 2000, the Order of Military Merit in 2005 and the Order of Laudatory in 2010 by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said. In 2017 Brigadier Ramis was awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of the University of Birmingham in recognition of his outstanding musical achievements and his exceptional commitment to music education and professional development of music in Oman.