“And military bands have been everywhere, where they have been able to give hope and faith to the fighting soldiers and the civilian population”: this year’s International Military Band Festival will be held in Debrecen’s main square with spectacular performances by ten foreign and two Hungarian bands.
Hungary will be represented by the Hungarian Defence Forces Debrecen Garrison Orchestra and the Hungarian Defence Forces Central Orchestra at the most important musical meeting of the Hungarian Defence Forces between 3 and 6 July 2024, while the international line-up will include the Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia, Croatia, the Netherlands, Italy, Egypt, Romania and Poland. The festival is organised every two years by the Ministry of Defence and the Municipality of Debrecen, and this year almost 600 participants will take up their instruments.
Few people know that the roots of this celebration of our historical heritage go back to the 1848-49 Revolution and War of Independence, when the horn and drum musicians of the newly formed armies played an important role in inspiring the newly formed armies to fight. And military bands were everywhere, where they could inspire hope and faith in the fighting soldiers and civilians.
Detailed program of the XXII International Military Music Festival:
Wednesday, 3 July 2024
18:00 Debrecen Garrison Band
19:00 – 19:40 Czech Republic (Olomouc Military Band)
20:00 – 20:40 Slovakia (Military Music Band of the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic)
Thursday, July 4, 2024
16:00 Marching from the Reformed Small Church to the Reformed Great Church (Austria, Poland, Croatia, Netherlands, Debrecen)
17:00 – 17:40: Austria (Carinthian Military Band)
18:00 – 18:40 Poland (Lublin Military Band)
19:00 – 19:40 Croatia (Croatian Armed Forces Band)
20:00 – 20:40 Netherlands (Band of the Royal Netherlands Marechausse)
Friday, 5 July 2024
16:00 Marching from the Reformed Small Church to the Reformed Great Church (Romania, Italy, Egypt, Turkey, Czech Republic, Slovakia)
17:00 – 17:40 Romania (Muzica Reprezentativă a Ministerului Apărării Naționale)
18:00 – 18:40 Italy (Banda dei Carabinieri)
19:00 – 19:40 Egypt (The Profitable Military Symphony Band)
20:00 – 20:40 Turkey (Armoni Mızıkası Komutanlığı)
Saturday, 6 July 2024
08.00 – Military Experience Area
Combat vehicles demonstration (HMMWV, Polaris, Gidran)
Robot Dog
Gripen simulator
Matrix orientation and skill competition, laser shooting, point collecting competition for children
Recruiting point, weapons demonstration
17.00 – Gala ceremony
Gripen fly-over
Military demonstrations (lawn shows)
Closing ceremony concert of the military bands
Venue of the events: Kossuth Square
Rain venue: from Wednesday to Friday Kölcsey Centre, on Sunday Főnix Arena
Source of photos: dehir.hu
