EM/14/01
A young musician from the East Midlands will be performing in front of the Duke of Edinburgh this week as part of the world famous Royal Marines Band.
As one of the few women in the Royal Marines, French Horn player, Sarah Keddilty will be performing live at the Mountbatten Music Festival at the Albert Hall in London on February 15, 16 and 17. The concert is being held in aid of the Sargent Cancer Care for Children Charity and over thirty other service related charities.
Nicknamed ''cup of tea'', the 19-year old originally from Derby first heard about the Royal Marines Band Service nearly four years ago and was thrilled to find a career that had everything she wanted - music and the military. Living up to her nickname, Sarah believes the Royal Marines Band really is her ''cup of tea''!
Currently based at HMS Nelson in Portsmouth, Sarah is enjoying every minute of her musical training and is excited about performing in London this week.
She said:
"I''m really looking forward to the opportunity of playing at the Royal Albert Hall in front of so many people.
"Ever since I started playing the French Horn I have never looked back. My love of music led me to play for the Derbyshire County Youth Wind Band and Orchestra and I have travelled abroad several times with other bands. Joining the Royal Marines Band Service meant that I could carry on playing the French Horn while also pursuing a career in the military. Being a musician in the Royal Marines is a unique musical blend of versatility, talent and traditions; on top of which music has an important role as part of a fighting force. "
The Royal Marines Band Service is recognised as one of the finest musical bodies in the world and provides musical support for the Royal Navy and the Royal Marines on every type of occasion.
Each of the bands which make up the Service has to perform as an orchestra and a dance band as well as a military band. Their repertoire covers every category of music. They can provide anything from full orchestra down to jazz, pop and folk groups.
To find out more about joining the Royal Marines, call the recruitment hotline on 08456 075555; visit the website at http://www.rmjobs.co.uk; or call into your local Royal Navy and Royal Marines careers office.
Notes to Editors
1. The Royal Marines Band is the only area of the Royal Marines open to women.
2. The origins of the Royal Marines Band Service go back to the days of Drake and Hawkins when drummers signalled the ''changing watches'' or ''beat the men to quarters''. In the six companies of the Duke of York and Albany''s Regiment of Foot - the forerunners of the Royal Marines - which were raised in 1664 - the Colour and the Drum provided a rallying point in close battle. This is why even today it is the drums and bugles of the Royal Marines Buglers Branch which lead the band on parade. 1
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