Soldiers tune in for Apec anthems

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THE PNG Defence Force is preparing its first brass band to play the national anthems for participating countries in next year’s Asia-Pacific Cooperation meeting, says Captain Raphael Oa.
He told The National that there were 41 band members, including eight women.
“This will become the first PNGDF official brass band to perform national anthems for participating countries,” Oa said.
He said PNGDF did not have any brass band.
He said training supported by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency began in January.
“We are looking forward to staging our third phase in January and will finish in March,” Oa said.
He said they would also be sending some members of the band to Japan for training.
“Currently, we have three officers who are attending the conductors’ course in Japan,” he said.
Oa said the 42 brass band members had already performed on a number of occasions as part of their training.
“And on Friday they performed at the Sogeri Motel during the launching of the PNGDF Kumul Leadership Framework package.