For over 30 years, the Birmingham International Tattoo has been bringing military and other marching bands from across the world to Birmingham, including bands from the Russian Federation.
The Moscow Military Academy Cadets band was due to appear at this year’s Birmingham International Tattoo at the Resorts World Arena on September 10th and 11th 2022, but due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine the Tattoo organisers have confirmed that they have cancelled the invitation to the Russian band to take part. The Birmingham International Tattoo is Britain’s biggest indoor tattoo (a type of military type tournament) featuring marching bands, pipes & drums, field gun racing, dog racing, massed standard bearers and much more including a spectacular Grand Finale with over 1,000 performers.
Birmingham International Tattoo Producer Norman Rogerson MBE said: “The invasion of Ukraine by Russia goes against the values of the Birmingham International Tattoo, where for over 30 years we have been at the forefront of fostering international relations through the common language of music. As early as 1994 we brought the Red Army Band to Birmingham and bands from the Russian Federation have appeared regularly at the Tattoo, so it is with great regret that we take the decision to uninvite the Moscow Military Academy Cadets to this year’s international Tattoo at the Resorts World Arena at the NEC. Our thoughts go out to everyone affected by the ongoing conflict and we hope a peaceful solution can be found very soon.”
The Moscow Cadet Music Corps is the only academy in Moscow and in the Russian Federation which combines general, military-patriotic and musical education. Its mission is to train young boys inclined to serve the Army and Air Force as bandsmen, conductors and band drum majors. The band is much in demand and performs across the Russian Federation and abroad as far afield as China, Japan, Spain and France, to name but a few. They also take part at the International Military Music Festival “Spasskaya Tower” in Moscow which is held near the Kremlin each year. They last performed at the Birmingham International Tattoo in 2018.
The Birmingham International Tattoo will take place at the Birmingham Resorts World Arena at the NEC on Saturday 10th September 2022 at 6pm and Sunday 11th September 2022 at 2pm. Tickets and more information is available online at www.birminghamtattoo.co.uk or from the Box Office on 0344-338-8000.