The Admiralty Band of the Leningrad Naval Base
Lieutenant Captain Nikita Ignatov, Head of the Band
The Admiralty Naval Band of Russia has a very deep-rooted history, stretching back to the early 18th century. Three months before Saint-Petersburg itself was founded, in February 1703, Peter the Great ordered the draft of twenty-nine singers from the Moscow Royal Choir in order to teach them to play oboes for the Admiralty. Later both the Admiralty and the singers were transferred to the new Northern capital, and soon sounds of naval music started to engulf the construction site of the General Admiralty Building. Thus, the music of oboes and drums mixed with the sounds of hammers and creak of capstan engines accompanied the construction of the Russian Fleet.
By order of Peter the Great on 19 February 1711 the ensemble received official status as the Chorus of the Admiralty Battalion.
The modern Admiralty Navy Band is a highly professional band of naval musicians mastering a remarkable variety of genres and possessing a literally endless repertoire, from ceremonial and ancient military music, to classical, modern and dance compositions.
The Band's performances in the best concert halls of Saint Petersburg has become a key part of the city's concert life. The Admiralty Navy Band is a permanent participant at the international festivals held in Saint Petersburg, such as Palaces of Saint Petersburg, Admiralty Music, the Festival of Military Bands and others.
For their highly professional accompaniment of Queen Elisabeth's II visit to Saint-Petersburg the band was rewarded with a Diploma of Gratitude of the President of the Russian Federation.
