The Joint Band of the Military Province of Northern Finland

2009

The band includes musicians from two bands: Pohja Military Band and Lapland Military Band.


Pohja Military Band

The band of the Karelian Guard Regiment was founded in Vyborg in 1918, giving birth to Pohja, one of the three largest military bands of Northern Finland. During the Second World War, the Band was divided in two, with one division serving in the rear support battalion and another serving in the Oulu garrison on the shore of the Gulf of Bothnia. After the war, the Band was renamed twice: in 1952 it was named the Oulu Garrison Band and in early 1990ies it got its current name. Pohja Military Band is a constant participant of different military music festivals both in Finland and abroad. Marching is an integral part of the Band’s performances.

The military bandmaster is senior lieutenant Jaakko Nurila, graduate of the Music Academy of Y.Sibelius (Helsinki), a famous Finnish saxophonist.


Lapland Military Band

Formed in 1969, the Lapland Military Band, the most northern military band in the EU, is part of the Lapland SAM Regiment, one of the most northern garrisons of Finland. Traditionally, the band performs at parades, festivities of the regiment, military ceremonies, wreath-laying ceremonies and at veteran events; the Band participates in international military music festivals.

The military bandmaster is major Juha Tiensuu, graduate of the Music Academy of Y.Sibelius, a flutist. He did military service as the military bandmaster of the Central Band of the Enlisted of the Armed Forces of Finland and head of Karelia military band.


Direction of the Festival

Festival's page on the Official site of the Guild of Purveyors to the Kremlin