Last week the Latvian National Armed Forces Army Orchestra visited Norfolk, Virginia, United States, and participated in the Virginia International Tattoo festival and the Norfolk NATO Festival, both as part of the Virginia Arts Festival.
Alongside the Latvian National Armed Forces Army Orchestra, the festival invited participants from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Great Britain, Singapore, Ukraine, and several states in the US.
The festival hosted than 800 participants, mostly from various national army orchestras.
As part of the Virginia International Tattoo, the Latvian National Armed Forces Army Orchestra performed six shows at the Norfolk Scope Arena, including two shows dedicated to charity organizations, as well as ensemble performances near the arena and participation in the festival’s mass choir.
The Latvian National Armed Forces Army Orchestra’s program combined the Latvian classics and modern music by starting the program with a jazz arrangement of the Latvian folksong “Pūt, vējiņi”, arranged by Gunārs Rozenbergs.
The sousaphone beatbox performed by Kaspars Orehovs created a thematic arc to pop genre compositions – “The Winner Takes It All” by Swedish supergroup ABBA and “Shut Up and Dance” by American pop band Walk the Moon.
The chief of the Latvian National Armed Forces Army Orchestra Lt. Cdr. Guntis Kumačevs led the Tattoo performance of the orchestra along with orchestra’s drum major Staff Sgt. Artis Greckis.
The chief conductor of The Latvian National Armed Forces Maj. Andis Karelis was selected to be one of the joint orchestra conductors.
As part of the Norfolk NATO festival, the Latvian National Armed Forces Army Orchestra participated in the NATO Flag Raising Ceremony and the 70th Annual Parade of Nations which is the only parade in the US honouring the NATO alliance specifically.
During the visit, the orchestra performed a concert at Tallwood High School that specializes in different language studies.
The Latvian National Armed Forces Army Orchestra program included music by various Latvian composers such as Raimonds Pauls, Zigmars Liepiņš, Uldis Marhilevičs, Gunārs Rozenbergs, and Inga Meijere, as well as works of music known internationally. The concert was conducted by Maj. Andis Karelis and Lt. Cdr. Guntis Kumačevs. Solo artists included Master Sgt. Jānis Jakobs (tuba), Master Sgt. Guntars Gedroics (bass clarinet), Master Sgt. Gatis Supe (vocal), and Cpl. Ričards Lapiņš (clarinet). The concert began with a joint performance of Latvian music with the Tallwood High School Band. Prior to the concert, there was a presentation and discussion about Latvia, its culture, and traditions.
During the visit, the Latvian National Armed Forces Army Orchestra ensemble performed at the reception in Norfolk, Virginia, organized by Latvia’s representative at NATO Headquarters.
“Latvia’s membership in the NATO alliance is essential, and it is important for us as military musicians to represent Latvia at this significant festival with our heads held high.
We have been preparing for this festival for three years and it is a great honour to be performing alongside some of the best orchestras in the world which inspire us to strive for new levels of quality. The Latvian National Guard Orchestra and the Latvian National Armed Forces Navy Orchestra have visited the U.S. in previous years, but this time it will be the Latvian National Armed Forces Army Orchestra representing Latvia as they have done in many other international festivals across the world,” said Maj. Andis Karelis.
The Latvian National Armed Forces Army Orchestra was founded on the 3rd of February, 1992, and it is one of the most recognizable Latvian National Armed Forces units. In Latvia, the orchestra is commonly known to perform at important celebrations and events. The orchestra performs multiple functions—ceremonies, parades, and festivals, as well as orchestra and ensemble concerts. Since its inception, the orchestra has participated in many international and globally revered military music festivals. Due to these performances, the orchestra has gained both foreign and domestic recognition.
The biggest naval base in the world and the only NATO Headquarters in North America are both located in Norfolk, Virginia, and this city has the highest number of serving and retired military personnel in the US. The Virginia International Tattoo is widely known to be the most patriotic festival of its kind.
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