The Italian Navy Band (Banda Musicale della Marina Militare) is one of the oldest Italian military band ensembles. Its origins date back to the instrumental ensembles normally present on Flagships in the navies preceding the unification of Italy, which in 1861, with the merging of the Sardinia-Piedmont Kingdom Navy and the Royal Navy of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, gave birth to the Royal Italian Navy (Regia Marina Italiana) and its first band ensemble. It was a small ensemble which performed on the Flagship and it was made up of performers mainly from the Borbonic Navy, including its first Chief Conductor.
The Italian Navy Music Ensemble (Corpo Musicale della Marina Militare) was officially established on 1st January 1879 through the creation of the Royal Italian Navy Musician's role and the consequent creation of a new permanent structure at the High Command in La Spezia. From 1965 to 1999, it was under the command of the Taranto Naval Department and it was later moved to Rome, where it is currently based.
The Italian Navy Band is currently composed of a Conductor, a Vice Conductor, 102 musicians and an archivist, all of whom are active duty service members. They come from Conservatoires and Music Institutes and are selected through public competitions. For all logistic and administrative aspects, the Band is supported by a dedicated team.
The sound quality, the variety of its repertoire, the flexibility of its orchestral and instrumental groups, the formal composure of its personnel, along with its bond to traditions, its openness to all musical genres and its sensitivity toward social issues make it one of the most prestigious national and international band ensembles.
Its repertoire, in addition to traditional military marches, embraces every music genre: from original band music to classical pieces, from opera to symphonies, from pop to jazz to rock.
The Italian Navy Band carries out its institutional activities both in Italy and abroad, receiving admiration and appreciation from both its audiences and its critics.
Among the experiences abroad, the following are worth mentioning:
in 2024 in Japan, Tokyo, on the occasion of the Japanese leg of the Amerigo Vespucci World Tour;
in 2019 in France, Lourdes at the 63rd Military Pilgrimage;
in 2011 in Sweden, with activities related to the Military Tattoo in Ystad;
in 2010 in Spain, with concerts in Madrid;
in 2001 and 2009 in Belgium, Mons, at the NATO Supreme Command;
in 2003 and 2006 in U.S.A., New York, at the 'Columbus Day' celebrations;
in 2002 in New Zealand, Auckland, at the 'Louis Vuitton Cup' America's Cup sailing event;
in 2002 in Egypt, in El Alamein and Alexandria;
and also Kiel and Hamburg in Germany, Vienna and St. Poelten in Austria.
Important national venues the Band has performed at include: Teatro alla Scala, the Auditorium and Teatro dal Verme in Milan; Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia - Auditorium Parco della Musica 'Ennio Morricone', Teatro dell'Opera, the Auditorium Conciliazione, Terme di Caracalla and Sala Accademica del Conservatorio Santa Cecilia in Rome; Teatro di San Carlo in Naples; Teatro Regio and the Auditorium Paganini in Parma; Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa; Teatro Verdi in Trieste; Teatro Petruzzelli in Bari; Teatro Massimo Bellini in Catania; Teatro La Fenice in Venice.
The Italian Navy Band also regularly collaborates with the most important Italian and foreign cultural institutions and has appeared on several radio and television programs, including, in 2021, the performance in Sanremo at the opening of the final evening of the Festival. Its noteworthy video and record production includes the DVDs of the concerts held in 2005 and 2010 for the International Festival of Military Bands in Modena, the DVD of the 'Ystad International Military Tattoo 2011' (Sweden), the CD 'Hymn of the Italian Merchant Navy' by the Italian Shipping Academy and the CDs 'Mozart New Look', 'Banda all'opera', 'Terre Lontane', 'Avanti Tutta' and 'Hymns and Marches'.
In 2004, it was awarded the “Peace Knighthood" award by the 'International Center of Assisi for Peace among Peoples', for its ability to convey, through its music, the image of the Italian Navy's increasing international social and humanitarian commitment.
Another important event in the field of humanitarian aid, was its active participation in the production of the CD/DVD entitled 'The Man with the Mac' made to help the children in Haiti after the tragic earthquake in 2010.
At present, the Italian Navy Music Band's Commanding Officer is Frigate Captain Aniello Grasso, and the Conductor is Captain Maestro Antonio Barbagallo.
