Hellenic Army Band of the Athens

During its procession from the Acropolis Museum to the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens, the Hellenic Army Band of Athens will perform well-known marches and encomia (praises), as well as compositions by Rossini and Chopin.

BRIEF BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

The history of the Hellenic Army Band of Athens  begins almost simultaneously with that of the post-revolutionary Regular Hellenic Army. In 1824, the first military band was created within the ranks of the newly formed Regular Army in Nafplion by Colonel Panagiotis Rodios, with Giovanni Maggel as bandmaster. In 1834, when the capital was moved from Nafplion to Athens, the Army Bands of the 1st and 7th Infantry Battalions were formed. In 1836, these two Army Bands merged, creating the Band of the 3rd Infantry Battalion, based in Athens, with Franz Seiler as bandmaster. By 1854, the Army Band of Athens consisted of 40 musicians. In 1860, a Special Army Band of Athens was founded. From 1919 to 1922, the ensemble took part in the Asia Minor expedition. After the end of the expedition, it was reorganized in Athens under the name Army Band of Athens. In 1940, with the outbreak of the Greco-Italian War, it was reformed and followed the Command Centre of the 1^st Army Corps in Albania. Between 1948 and 2009, the Athens-based military band frequently changed its name due to changes in the Greek army’s organizational structure. In 2009, it was finally placed under the Supreme Military Support Command (SMS/ASDYS). Since its foundation, the band has played a pivotal role in important historical moments and has represented Greece at various international festivals.