23 Military Orchestra of the Headquarters of the Western Military District

The Western Military District Headquarters Orchestra is the successor and continuer of the traditions of one of the oldest military orchestra in Russia - the Palace Musicians' Choir, established in 1882 by the decree of Emperor Alexander III and later transformed into a Palace Orchestra. In 1917 the orchestra was disbanded and its musicians joined the Garrison Exemplary Orchestra - the prototype of the future Headquarters Orchestra.

In 1935 the Exemplary Orchestra of the Leningrad Military District was introduced. It was the only military orchestra that continued its work in besieged Leningrad. On 9 August 1942 16 musicians of the orchestra took part in the first performance of Shostakovich's Seventh Leningrad Symphony.

Nowadays, the band can be called the main military band of St. Petersburg. It performs the tasks of ceremonial service, being the band of the Guard of Honour. It provides for events with the participation of the top public officials, heads of the government and presidents of foreign countries.

The orchestra's music can be heard at the Mariinsky Theatre, the Hermitage, the St. Petersburg State Philharmonic and the State Academic Chapel. The orchestra regularly participates in All-Army military band competitions, taking first place in 1960, 1983, 1988, 2008, 2014 and 2019.

Head of the Military Orchestral Service of the Western Military District Headquarters - Lieutenant-Colonel Pavel Gernets
Chief Artistic Director of the Orchestra - Captain Grigorii Velko
Military Conductor - Senior Lieutenant Aleksei Valynkin