THE ROYAL BAND OF THE BELGIAN NAVY

The Navy Band was officially founded in Ostend on 1 July 1947. The first Bandmaster, Lieutenant Louis Gasia, composed the famous Navy March based on folk themes. In 1995 the Navy’s previous name “Zeemacht“ in Flemish and “Force Navale” in French changed into “Marine” (Navy). Later on, on the occasion of its fiftieth anniversary, the title ‘Royal’ has been conferred. For the time being the Royal Navy Band consists of 36 professional musicians who show their talent all over the world.

The Belgian Navy Band is endowed with the valuable status of worthy ambassador of Belgian music where Belgian military music holds a special place. Since the nineties, the Band organised tours abroad to perform concerts. The Band played in Cracow, Gdansk, Stuttgart, Cologne, Albertville, Gap, Normandy, Virginia (USA), Budapest, Modena, Breda, Luxembourg, Berlin, Birmingham… The band also performed at big festivals in Nan Chang (China) and Halifax (CA) and several times at the Festival International de Musiques Militaires de Québec (Canada). At this last festival in 2013, the band had an excellent performance of their show “@BE” a tribute to Belgian music. Since 04 January 2010 Chief Petty officer Bjorn Verschoore has been the Bandmaster. Together with petty officers head of section Kurt Callebert and Alain Mertens, he has made the Band participate in numerous and various events and activities: cd, radio and television recordings, countless military and other ceremonies. Those last ones, with the help of Drum-major Hans Moreels. With its numerous and different activities, the Band is now a flexible orchestra with military traditions that integrates its own cultural background, style, entertainment, show… in a new concept that is especially appreciated by the audience.