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In the course of their colourful history, military bands have performed in compositions as large as 250 musicians and taken numerous trips to perform abroad.

Military bandsmen The Conscript Band of the Defence Forces offers musically talented conscripts a chance to complete their military service in a military band. Performing in events requiring distinguished performance in Finland and abroad, the Con...

LAPLAND MILITARY BAND Premiere Finnish military music! The Lapland Military Band located in Rovaniemi is the only professional wind orchestra in Northern Finland, with 29 musicians in the ensemble. The chief conductor for the northernmost Military...

How to Become a Military Musician? The military bands recruit new players at regular intervals. The applicants must be Finnish citizens and complete the instrument proficiency test. To gain a position in a band, you must have completed the mandato...

Music and Experiences Across Finland This summer, the Finnish Defence Forces' MILjazz tour offers an even more diverse music program! The tour, which kicks off on May 29 in Seinäjoki, will bring the bands to nine different locations. The tour will...

4.2.2026 | The military oath and affirmation ceremonies of contingent 1/26 will take place in Sodankylä and Rovaniemi garrisons on Saturday, 14 February 2026.

4.2.2026 | The military oath and affirmation ceremonies of contingent 1/26 will take place in Sodankylä and Rovaniemi garrisons on Saturday, 14 February 2026.

3.10.2025 | The third National Defence University conferment ceremony was held in Helsinki between 18 and 20 September 2025. At the conferment ceremony, 23 doctors of military sciences graduating after 2018 and 5 Honorary Doctors were conferred. Conferment grants them the right to use the doctoral hat and sword.

8.5.2025 | On Commemoration Day of Fallen Soldiers on Sunday 18 May, a national military funeral with full honours will be held in Lappeenranta for 26 unidentified Finnish soldiers recovered from former battle sites in Russia. The event will be arranged in co-operation by the Finnish Defence Forces, City of Lappeenranta, Evangelical Lutheran Parishes’ Union in Lappeenranta, and Association for Commemoration of the Fallen.

13.12.2022 | For the first time ever, the Defence Forces will realise a show written and directed by Samuel Harjanne and Petrus Kähkönen showcasing unparalleled military music skills. The audience will enjoy vigorous figure marching, virtuosic skills by drum sections and percussion instrument players, a fantastic rifle drill team show and versatile orchestration for brass band to string ensemble and big band music.

15.7.2024 | The biennial international military music event will fill the streets of Hamina with military music from 29 July to 3 August 2024. The Hamina Tattoo, which has become a tradition, is organized by the city of Hamina and the main partner is the Finnish Defence Forces. The Hamina Tattoo is one of the most important Tattoo events in the world.

3.10.2025 | The third National Defence University conferment ceremony was held in Helsinki between 18 and 20 September 2025. At the conferment ceremony, 23 doctors of military sciences graduating after 2018 and 5 Honorary Doctors were conferred. Conferment grants them the right to use the doctoral hat and sword.

Conductors Chief Conductor Major (Mus.) Ville Paakkunainen Ville Paakkunainen (born 1978) served as the chief conductor of the Conscript Band of the Finnish Defence Forces 2017-2020. Before that, he served as the conductor of the Guards Band, the ...

8.5.2025 | On Commemoration Day of Fallen Soldiers on Sunday 18 May, a national military funeral with full honours will be held in Lappeenranta for 26 unidentified Finnish soldiers recovered from former battle sites in Russia. The event will be arranged in co-operation by the Finnish Defence Forces, City of Lappeenranta, Evangelical Lutheran Parishes’ Union in Lappeenranta, and Association for Commemoration of the Fallen.

Conductors Chief Conductor Captain (mus.) Juhani Valtasalmi Captain (mus.) Juhani Valtasalmi (born in 1978) started in the post of the Senior Conductor of the Lapland Military Band on 1 March 2024. His previous posts were with the Conscript Band o...

Brass Septet The Lapland Military Band’s Brass Septet The Lapland Military Band’s Brass Septet is a versatile and adaptable ensemble consisting of seven brass players and 1-2 percussionists. The septet is suitable for any occasion – whether in a c...

Defence Command Contact information for the military bands is found from their pages. The Chief Conductor of the Finnish Defence Forces, Commander (Mus.) Timo Kotilainen p. +358 (0) 299 500 702 [email protected] Intendant of Military Music Ruusa H...

The Guards Band The Representative Orchestra of the President of the Republic, the Guards Band is the oldest continuously operating professional orchestra in Finland. The band was established in 1819. Nowadays the official representative band of t...

The Dragoon Band The Dragoon Band is a 34-member symphonic wind orchestra. The band's domicile is in Lappeenranta, in connection with the Army Academy. The Dragoon Band performs mainly in Eastern Finland. In 1921, a dragoon brigade and a band were...

Jaeger Brigade - About us The Jaeger Brigade trains troops for Northern Finland’s demanding circumstances and units specialised in regional combat in the Lapland area. The Jaeger Brigade is in charge of ordered tasks involving readiness and operat...