SAF Military Band

The SAF Military Band performs national and military protocol-related tasks, participates in national and military ceremonies and prepares concerts and recordings.

The SAF Military Band was established on 1 April 1996. Throughout its existence and operation it has grown into a high-quality renowned band which is today recognised at home and abroad. It is mainly composed of Ljubljana Academy of Music graduates. The carefree nature and zest of this young band are prerequisites for the performing and cultivation of a broad repertoire which is achieved by developing open and well-considered programmes performed by various members of the Military Band.

Since its humble beginnings, the Military Band has developed into an ensemble which is renowned throughout Slovenia and receives invitations to numerous concerts and festivals around Europe. A number of appearances abroad as well as over one thousand appearances in Slovenia have contributed to the reputation of the band, the Slovenian Armed Forces and the Republic of Slovenia. Especially abroad, the band always performs the works of Slovenian authors of different styles. This enables them to cooperate with numerous Slovenian and foreign music artists who share their extensive knowledge and experience with young musicians from the band.
 
The late Slovenian composer and conductor Jože Privšek is undoubtedly the composer who has most influenced the SAF Military Band. In addition to the numerous works he created, he wrote the composition “Majska suita” (The May Suite) which honours the day of the Slovenian Armed Forces. It was performed for the first time in Ljubljana on 15 May 1997. The aforementioned piece of music, as part of Mr Privšek’s rich opus, significantly contributed to the music of wind instruments and confirmed that he was a master of composition and instrumentation during the development of the SAF Military Band. For his work and self-sacrifice in the development of the SAF Military Band, he was posthumously awarded the Gold Medal of the Slovenian Armed Forces.

The band is distinguished for its diverse casts, varying from small chamber casts to a full band cast. A large part of appearances are made by the protocol cast, the Big Band cast and the so-called "exhibition" cast. They participate in military festivals abroad and fill dancing halls and provide evening entertainment at various events throughout Slovenia and Europe with a diverse Big Band programme.

The band is also proud of its other achievements, especially a number of radio and television recordings made in cooperation with Radio-television Slovenia. They also made a considerable number of programmes with foreign broadcasting companies. Radio and television programmes are thereby well enhanced by the recordings of the SAF Military Band. The band's compositions are also available on four CDs and one DVD, made in cooperation with Radio-television Slovenia.

The SAF Military Band was awarded the Gold and Bronze Medal of the Slovenian Armed Forces.