The Band of the Headquarters Central District of the National Guard

The Military Band of the Central Orsha-Khingan Orders of Zhukov and Red Banner National Guard District Headquarters

Major Arslan Ryskulov, Conductor of the Band.

Lieutenant Colonel Ibrahim Abdulaev, Artistic Director-Head of the National Guard Central District Military Band Service.

The Military Band of the Central Orsha-Khingan Orders of Zhukov and Red Banner National Guard District Headquarters is one of the oldest military music ensembles in Russia.

Founded in 1923, the group initially featured 26 members, with Max Kyuss, a prominent Russian and Soviet musician and composer of the world-famous Amur Waves waltz, as its conductor. In 2023, the band will celebrate its centennial.

In 1943, following Order No. 626 issued by the NKVD People’s Commissar of Internal Affairs, the band became the Exemplary Band of the 236th Convoy Troops Regiment. Back then, it came first at the competition of military orchestras of the Moscow Military District and later had the honor to perform at the heads of state meeting during the Yalta Conference.

In 1947, Major Georgiy Nikolaev, Head of the Band, picked out his best musicians to form within the Red Army the Band of the Honor Guard. Later, he was granted the Honored Artist of RSFSR title.

The band is a permanent participant in the Spasskaya Tower International Military Music Festival and Victory Parade on Red Square. It regularly takes part in various music contests under the aegis of the Russian National Guard Forces as well as in different events, including the Moscow City Day celebrations.

In 2019, the musicians participated in the Eskeri Kernei International Military Music Festival (Kazakhstan), the Kazan Fanfares International Military Music Festival (Kazan, Russia) and the Seventh International Wind Bands Festival named after Vasiliy Agapkin and Ilya Shatrov (Tambov, Russia).