Work under way on £12m music facilities for Royal Military Academy Sandhurst band
Military musicians at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) are to benefit from a £12m investment in new facilities.
Construction has already begun on the new-build and refurbishing works which will include rehearsal rooms, an instrument store, a music library, offices, storage, changing and toilet facilities, and a crew room.
The project, for British Army Sandhurst's 54-piece symphonic wind band, is part of a 10-year £3.35bn investment programme to modernise the Army estate and is due to be completed by the end of 2024.
It is being delivered by the Defence Estate Optimisation (DEO) Army Programme, one of 35 projects which aim to "improve the lived experience for soldiers" with "an affordable, effective and sustainable Army Regular estate".
Representatives of Army Infra Delivery, the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) and RMAS attended a ground breaking event at the build site.
DEO Army Programme director Belinda Lunn said: "This project is an excellent example of the improvements we are making across the Army estate to enhance how soldiers live, work and train.
"I am delighted to see construction on this purpose-built facility get under way and I look forward to seeing the band's infrastructure take shape over the coming months."
DIO DEO project manager Aleksia Xhaferraj said: "The Defence Estate Optimisation Army Programme is delivering significant benefits to the lived experience of Army musicians and improving the Army musicians' capability by providing them with these practice facilities.
"This exciting programme includes a 54-person band ensemble room and multiple breakout percussion suites, which will provide the musicians with the purpose-built facilities they need to use to train as a military band."
The band is comprised of musicians from The Royal Corps of Army Music and is one of 15 Regular Army Bands in the British Army.
Based in Surrey, the Sandhurst Band is a 54-piece symphonic wind band that includes a string quartet.
The band's primary outputs are to support state ceremonial and public duties, commemorative, celebratory and repatriation events, and support to the UK through community engagement and events.
Although cap-badged The Royal Corps of Army Music, the band is affiliated to The Royal Logistic Corps and The Royal Corps of Signals.
Adam Worrall, a director from construction firm Willmott Dixon, said: "We are extremely proud to be delivering this bespoke facility for serving personnel at Sandhurst in partnership with the Army and DIO.
"This is a brilliant project, aiming to improve the army estate for its soldiers, and we look forward to hearing some of the concerts delivered by the band following project completion."
Related topics
Join Our Newsletter
