AAF Orchestra

The **AAF Orchestra** is a unit in the AAF that is a military orchestra. The unit employs musicians and singers in Mandatory service who have successfully passed the professional exams for the orchestra before enlistment in the IDF. The main activity of the orchestra is expressed in performances at military ceremonies, official visits and honor guards, but alongside all of these, the orchestra also performs in front of the public in various frameworks of contribution to the community.

## **Characteristics of the Orchestra**

Unlike most military orchestras in the world, the **AAF Orchestra** serves musicians who are soldiers in their Mandatory service, and not soldiers in Permanent service.

The unit is staffed by soldiers with musical experience. In addition to the orchestra, the AAF also has the military Ikeaete choir and other military bands. The difference between the AAF orchestra and the other musical bodies is that they are entertainment bodies intended only to raise morale, while the orchestra is also a ceremonial unit. In contrast to the fact that the military bands belong to the Education Corps of the Manpower Directorate, the AAF Orchestra is more of an Independent Body that is Supervised by the Manpower Directorate, and it is entrusted with the military and state ceremonies of the Empire of Arstotzka.

Among the orchestra's many roles, most of its activities are performed at graduation ceremonies (at training bases around the Empire), official visits by country leaders and military personnel and official state ceremonies (such as the Annual Imperial Day Ceremony).

## **Activities of the Orchestra**

There is a difference between the diverse activities of the orchestra, which participates in many events.

### **Parades**

In the parade, the orchestra stands, and in most cases marches along the parade ground. In non-state parades, the orchestra is the first military force to enter the parade ground and immediately thereafter, the rest of the forces enter the march (cadets, trainees, etc.). In parades of this kind, which usually characterize the completion of courses in the IDF, the lead orchestra marches, whose main role is to tune the orchestra while marching, order references, and also - mark the beginning and end of the playing. In state parades, the orchestra usually does not march but stands at the feet of a red carpet that receives the central figure along with a Honor Guard, such as the Royal Guard, National Guard or an Honor Guard made up of Regular AAF Soldiers.

Despite the above, there are particularly large state parades that also include marching, such as large receptions held at the Helsinki International Airport.

### **Performances**

The orchestra also appears before the general public as part of a contribution to the community, in order to strengthen the connection between the army and the civilians, in addition to raise morale. These performances include a rich and varied repertoire, consisting of, among other things, classical music for wind orchestras, light music, Arstotzkan songs and Marches from the orchestra's "military repertoire". The orchestra also performs with top artists in Arstotzkan music.

On Top of that, The orchestra also performs once a year at the Petrograd Music Festival on the Annual Michael Day.