The U.S. Naval Forces Europe / Allied Forces Band is a multi-national music organization based in Naples Capodichino, and it is the official band of the American Navy in Europe. They perform throughout the European continent (Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea, Caspian Sea), throughout Africa and in Western Asia. The members of the band have performed in numerous countries: from England to Iceland, from Croatia to Israel, from Djibouti to Equatorial Guinea and South Africa. The band reaches a total audience of over 60 million people in more than 35 countries, thanks to the hundreds of performances that take place every year.
Priorities of the Band, a military body under the direct operational control of the Command of the US Naval Forces in Europe and Africa and of the NATO of southern Europe, are of course the official military ceremonies (such as the change in command, the arrivals and departures of military ships), the official receptions and other occasions useful to improve the psycho-physical well-being of US soldiers and of Allied Forces. The band is also often involved in efforts to improve international relations between partner countries.
Of course, when the institutional commitments allow it, the band is available to perform in civil and cultural events, offering concerts of the highest artistic level in the squares and theaters, in Italy and abroad. The musical formations are numerous and varied. They range from the Wind Ensemble, of about 45 elements, to the 4-element formations. The musical genres they offer range from classical-symphonic music, traditional and modern, to jazz, rock, pop; last but not least ethnic music of various cultures throughout the world.

The first spectacular Brazilian percussion street band from the Marche region, active since 1999, led by maestro Luca Mattioni and maestro Amedeo Griffoni. “Mao Branca”, literally “White Hand”, is the color of the palm unquestionably similar for every man, white, black, or of any other race. The Mao Branca project is a musical movement that aims to spread the overwhelming rhythms of Afro-pop and samba-reggae, a typical expression of Salvador de Bahia, in the northeast of Brazil . The show “Street Band” offers the performance of 15/20 percussionists who, under the frenetic rhythm of the drums, move among the audience involving them in a show of pure energy.

In 2016, in the city of Tegucigalpa, Honduras, a group of 40 music-loving youngsters decided to form a musical group, to pursue their dreams: and so, on the 16th May of the same year, the “Banda Juvenil 504” was born.
This project aims to teach moral and spiritual values ​​to young people, and to keep them away from delinquency and all youth problems.
The “Banda Juvenil 504” attended numerous national, Christmas & carnival music parades, making its style known nationally and internationally; They also took part in special events such as educational concerts and Gala concerts, for example the presentation at the National Theater of Honduras “Manuel Bonilla”, which was a great success.
They represented Honduras in various countries from Latin America, they won thirteen first prizes and one second prize. In August 2017 they competed in the International Band competition in the Republic of Guatemala: in the category A they gained the first place, in other 3 categories the second place instead. In the same year they were considered as the best band of 2017 – rewarded by a prestigious shirt factory.
On May 3rd, 2018, the International Band Organization in Guatemala honoured them with the award for Best International Band, plus they received the award for Best Director of the Year.

The Takigawa II High School Wind Orchestra and Marching Band was founded in 1984. At the beginning there were only six members in the band, playing pop music and songs from artists such as the Beatles. Afterwards, members started to increase year by year, and began to performing at sporting events like soccer and baseball.
From the 1990s, the band took part in local level competitions in the Kobe, Japan. Now, the band has nearly 90 members, and they participate in many national level competitions, including the All Japan Marching Contest. This year will mark the bands twenty-second annual concert, which is attended by nearly 2000 people.

Riga Technical University Students’ Wind Band SPO was founded on 5 March 1969 in Riga. Between 1969 and 1990, the band was led by its founder and Chief Conductor Hermanis Eglitis. The band has had its dance group since 1987. Janis Purins conducted the orchestra between 1990 and 1992, but Maris Martinsons assumed the role of Artistic Director in 1992. Dainis Cimermanis has been working as the Second Conductor of the band since 2003 and Gita Udre assumed leadership of the dance group in 1994.
The orchestra aims to grow and develop to strive for the highest results in competitions in Latvia and abroad by performing high quality music to its audiences and creating an attractive creative environment.
The members of SPO are lively, cheerful and enthusiastic. They include students and young people from various universities in Latvia, as well as veterans who have kept the spirit of students.
Every year, SPO takes part in various celebrations, festivals, parades and events hosted by the state and the local government. The band has received awards from various international competitions in Germany, Switzerland, Italy, the Netherlands and has successfully participated in festivals in Russia, Ukraine, Finland, Hungary, France, Luxembourg and Greece.
SPO has made several recordings at the Latvian Radio and Latvian Television, including two vinyl records and a CD released in 2008.
The band plays a wide range of compositions from traditional marches and medleys of student songs to classical arrangements, as well as originals by composers from Latvia and abroad. The repertoire is selected for each concert specifically. Originals by European composers and arrangements of baroque and classical music are generally featured in large concerts and competitions, while arrangements of jazz, popular and other genres of light music are mainly played at street concerts. Pieces by Latvian composers and folk music, enhanced by Gita Udre’s dance group, have become especially popular.