By the Air Force Music Band and Air Force Academy Chorus

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AIR FORCE MUSIC BAND

The Air Force Music Band was created by Decree-Law No. 41 492 of 12-31-57, becoming dependent on the then Secretary of State for Aeronautics. Subsequently, and through various diplomas, Banda was placed under the direct dependence of the General Staff of the Air Force. Later, with its organic framework having been extended, it was considered as a titular body of Aeronautical Colonel, a private badge of the Air Force that with it characterizes all its Units. In its Coat of Arms it bears the motto: “SERVING WITH ENGINE AND ART”.

Throughout its existence, several concerts prove the eminently soloistic, artistic and technical level of the Instrumentalists and the dignity of the direction of their Maestros. Its first boss was Captain Joaquim Cordeiro, with Major Silvério Campos, Major Aurélio Pinho, Major Mário Marques, Captain Agostinho Caineta, Lieutenant-Colonel João Silva and Lieutenant-Colonel Élio Murcho who, cumulatively, , were Superintendents of the Band and Fanfares. Until April 2012, Captain José Serra was also Head of the Band. Currently, the titular Maestro is Major António Rosado assisted by Maestro Capitão Rui Silva.

Mostly made up of top performers, the Band responds to the numerous requests that are made for performances of different kinds. In addition to missions of a markedly military nature (Guards of Honor, Parades and others), he has achieved many successes, interpreting works by world-renowned authors, in concerts of the highest level, on the Continent, in the Autonomous Regions of the Azores and Madeira and even abroad in national representation, in GERMANY, BELGIUM, SPAIN, FRANCE, NETHERLANDS, ENGLAND and LUXEMBOURG.

In its trips across the country and abroad, the Band has contributed as a cultural element to the enrichment of the entire Portuguese musical environment, giving prestige to the Air Force, the Armed Forces and Portugal.

In addition to the Gold Medal for Distinguished Services awarded in 1957 for the high performance of its missions, the Air Force Music Band also stands out for the development of other strategies and initiatives of great importance in the national Military panorama. Proof of this is the attribution of the 1st National Defense and Equality Award to the Air Force Music Band, in 2020, for the development of Sonho de Voar, a project to promote Gender Equality in the Armed Forces and to promote the Operational Culture of the Air Force since the younger generations setting their sights on the future of this avant-garde branch. More recently, in 2023, the Air Force Music Band was decorated by His Excellency the President of the Republic as an Honorary Member of the Military Order of Sant’iago da Espada.

AIR FORCE ACADEMY CHORUS

The Air Force Academy Choir (AFA) was founded in the 1996/1997 school year by His Excellency. Major-General Manuel José Taveira Martins, then Commander of the AFA, at the proposal of Major Chaplain Eduardo Almeida, aiming beyond the development of the cultural component, in accordance with the dignity and pride of a Military Institution with high standards of demand and quality , the creation of a space for the projection of the esprit de corps among the students.
With its musical and choral components, the AFA Choir has been asserting itself as a space that promotes culture, humanistic training and bonds of camaraderie between students of the various school years, contributing to the integral training of future officers of the Cadres Permanent members of the Air Force, for which it deserved official recognition as an AFA Circum-School Activity.

Over time, the Choir has earned the respect and admiration of all, raising the image of the Academy and ennobling the Air Force institution, through performances in various military, liturgical and cultural ceremonies, in national territory or abroad, from including the Commemorative Concert of the 50th Anniversary of the Air Force at Expo 98, in 2002; the Celebration Concert of the Centenary of the South Atlantic Air Crossing, at the Centro Cultural de Belém and the Air Force Christmas Concert at the Rectory of Universidade Nova de Lisboa, both in 2022; the Eucharists of Thanksgiving and Suffrage on the occasion of the anniversary date of this Branch of the Armed Forces, in addition to the internal presentations of the AFA and of its academic calendar.

The AFA Choir has 25 years of history and is currently composed of 2 Officers of this military public higher education establishment and 43 students, from various academic years, being directed by Maestrina Mariana Moldão Martins since January 2020.