Royal Norwegian Navy Band

About Royal Norwegian Navy Band

The Royal Norwegian Navy Band is one of five professional military bands in Norway. The band was established in 1820 and has been located in Horten, near Oslo, since 1850. It is a unique and popular ensemble and plays concerts both in Norway and abroad with its 27 professional and highly educated musicians. The band gives up to 150 performances each year and has undertaken tours and military assignments to USA, France, Russia, China, Spain, and elsewhere. The band has also visited Afghanistan twice to perform for both Norwegian and foreign troops. Royal Norwegian Navy Band won a ‘Norwegian GRAMMY’ (Spellemannprisen) in 2003 and has collaborated with several of Norway’s most famous singers and musicians. The band has also collaborated with international soloists such as José Carreras and Melody Gardot. In 2017 the band won the ‘Best Large Ensemble’ YAMaward for their production of Holst’s The Planets.

 The Royal Norwegian Navy Band has made its mark performing classical, contemporary, jazz, rock and pop music, in addition to traditional band repertoire. Royal Norwegian Navy Band's societal engagement is parhcularly evident through the War Sailor cause, which the band has been following since the 1960s. The efforts of the War Sailors during the second world war are considered Norway's most significant contribuhon to the Allied victory. The band has published a long series of CDs including the well reviewed CD Symphonies of Wind Instruments including Hindemith Konzertmusik and Symphony in B-flat and three CDs with the complete music for winds by Percy Grainger.