By Corporal Sarah Ramadan

La Musique du Royal 22e Régiment (La MR22eR) traveled to Paris from June 18 to 23 to participate in the Paris International Military Band Festival.

Playing to an enthusiastic audience including several French dignitaries, the band stood out with a bold and energetic performance. The group presented a medley of popular Quebecois songs of all genres with a lively choreography.

Commemorating the 100^th anniversary of the First World War, the festival involved eight bands from all over the world: France, Germany, Belgium, Scotland, the United States and Italy. The event was held on the highly symbolic grounds of Les Invalides, where wounded French soldiers have been treated since 1670.

In addition to the individual performances of each ensemble, the musicians from the different countries collaborated throughout the festival to commemorate the role their countries played during the First World War.

Captain Christian Richer, Commanding Officer of La MR22eR, conducted scenes relating to the Somme Battle and the Chemin des Dames. Women from all of the bands created a moving scene representing the important role women played through the war. Sergeant Marie-Pier Laflamme, from La MR22eR, provided vocals during this and other scenes.

June 23 was also a national day dedicated to wounded army personnel in France. In addition to their participation in the festival, a group of musicians proudly represented the Canadian Armed Forces by running alongside French Army personnel for 7.4 kilometres through the streets of Paris. The French seemed to appreciate this gesture, welcoming and thanking the Canadians all along the route.

The band felt the experience to be highly enriching. It was another occasion for La Musique du Royal 22e Régiment to show its capabilities all the while showing respect and remembering our fallen comrades.

You can watch the entire show on our Facebook page: la Musique du Royal 22^e Régiment (in French only).