Emotional scenes as Armed Forces of Ukraine take centre stage alongside world-famous Massed Bands of His Majesty’s Royal Marines in spectacular show of solidarity and sound.
In a dazzling display of music, military precision and international solidarity, the Massed Bands of His Majesty’s Royal Marines performed their 53rd annual Mountbatten Festival of Music at a packed Royal Albert Hall this weekend — with a historic first: a moving collaboration with musicians from the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
In a venue steeped in tradition and grandeur, the evening opened with the National Anthem in honour of His Majesty the King, Captain General of the Royal Marines. What followed was a remarkable celebration of unity, friendship, and resilience through the universal language of music.
This year’s festival featured a special guest performance by the Royal Marines Band Service (RMBS) alongside 11 Ukrainian military musicians — the first time the two nations’ armed forces have shared the stage in such a way.
‘Unbreakable’ Band Makes History
The Ukrainian ensemble, known as the ‘Unbreakable’ Band, comprises members of The Honored Academic Orchestra and The Band of the Military Musical Centre of the Land Forces. Together with bands from Portsmouth, Collingwood, Scotland, and the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines (CTCRM), they delivered a powerful joint performance of ‘The Rise of the Ukrainian Sun’ — an arrangement of three traditional Ukrainian pieces.
Colonel Ihor Kishman, Chief of Ukrainian Armed Forces Music, expressed the profound significance of the occasion:
“We are so proud to have performed in the UK and to have represented our Armed Forces to such an amazing audience.
“The Mountbatten Festival of Music has given us a wonderful opportunity to strengthen, celebrate and publicise the partnership between Ukraine and the UK through the universal language of music.
“Performing the music we play for our brave troops and civilians in this iconic venue has been wonderful. Friendship is also a universal language, and it has been a joy to make many new friends in the Royal Marines. We have had a great few days and now head back to Ukraine to continue our struggle assured that our musical and military bonds are stronger than ever.”
A member of the Royal Marines Band added:
“We don’t speak each other’s language, but there are no such barriers in music and the performance came together brilliantly. Their courage, friendship and musicianship is inspiring to us all.”
A Night of Spectacle and Sound
As always, the Mountbatten Festival of Music delivered its signature mix of pageantry and popular classics, with the Corps performing stirring renditions of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, ‘In the Hall of the Mountain King’, and a show-stopping West End medley titled ‘Curtain Call’.
The world-renowned Corps of Drums performed the intricate piece ‘Impossible’, written by former Corps Bandmaster Ivan Hutchinson and featuring a special on-stage appearance from Thomas Bergersen, the globally acclaimed Norwegian composer and multi-instrumentalist.
Lieutenant Colonel Huw Williams RM, Principal Director of Music for the RMBS, praised the variety and international collaboration showcased during the evening:
“We had a wide variety of styles and pieces at this year’s Mountbatten Festival of Music. Alongside the regular ceremonial pieces and modern arrangements, we also had an incredible collaboration with Thomas Bergersen, who performed a fantastic piece with us which was really exciting for all involved.
“We were particularly honoured to have Musicians from the Armed Forces of Ukraine with us this year.”
With music echoing through the Royal Albert Hall and the Ukrainian flag flying high beside the Union Jack, this year’s festival was more than just a concert — it was a powerful statement of solidarity, shared values, and the enduring power of cultural diplomacy.
Source: Royal Navy. Photo permission: Royal Navy – UK MOD © Crown copyright 2025 MOD Crown Copyright News / Editorial Licence.
