As the Royal Air Force approaches its centenary year, the Royal Air Force bands will be undertaking an extensive tour of the UK with concerts and other events to mark this special anniversary. However, also marking the 15th anniversary of the RAF Music Charitable Trust, the charity will be organising its own concerts to also celebrate this very special moment in the history of Her Majesty’s Armed Forces.
On Saturday 8th July, this musical celebration comes to Peterborough with a first ever RAF band concert at The Voyager Academy, featuring the internationally acclaimed Band of the Royal Air Force College along with their big band Royal Air Force Swing Wing.
Based at RAF College Cranwell, Lincolnshire, since its formation in 1920, the Band of the Royal Air Force College is arguably the band which is most steeped in musical history and tradition, performing at a diverse range of venues and engagements across the UK and in countries worldwide.
Founder of the charity, Malcolm Goodman MBE said: “As part of a weekend of concerts leading up to the centenary celebrations of the Royal Air Force, whilst also supporting so many very worthy service charities, it’s a real privilege to present this very special Royal Air Force band charity concert at The Voyager Academy in Peterborough.”
On parade, the Band has performed at the world-renowned Edinburgh Tattoo, Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace and was also the first RAF Band to change the guard at Edinburgh Castle. This year has also seen the Band perform for Her Majesty The Queen, unveiling the Iraq and Afghanistan Memorial, and also performing in a special tri-service Drumhead Service of Dedication on Horse Guards Parade, in London.
On the concert stage the band regularly performs at all the major UK concert halls including the Royal Festival Hall and Royal Albert Hall in London, Symphony Hall in Birmingham, the Royal Concert Hall in Nottingham and the Sage Gateshead, it will therefore be a unique one-off occasion to hear the Band performing at the Voyager Academy.
As serving members of the RAF, band personnel also support various operations worldwide, with personnel routinely serving in Afghanistan, Turkey, Iraq, Cyprus and The Falkland Islands. It is therefore appropriate that, conducted by Director of Music Squadron Leader Richard Murray, this concert will be in aid of the Royal Air Force Music Charitable Trust raising welfare funds for various service charities through the performance of live music by RAF musicians.
For further information and to purchase tickets for this RAF Anniversary Concert in Peterborough please visit the website at www.rafmct.org.uk/events or contact The Voyager Academy directly on 01733 383 888 to reserve your ticket.