MaltaMedia.com

The Kolbotn- Garden Marching Show band and majorettes from Oppegaard, Norway will be coming to Malta from 26th June to 1st July to give various public perform various shows in Malta and Gozo.

The band and majorettes are made up of around 50 girls aged between 7 and 18. Kolbotn-Garden was founded by Bjørg Aukner in 1959 as a marching show band for girls and, therefore, this year is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Their first performance was on the Norway’s national day, on May 17th, in 1960.

Dag Aukner conducted the band as of 1965 both as drillmaster and conductor, and retired after 43 years in service, but remains active as an assistant conductor. The band is now conducted by Bjørn Egil Hop, and Kristian Magnussen is drillmaster.

Since the band was founded in 1959 Kolbotn Band and Majorettes has been one of the most famous attractions of its kind in the south eastern part of Norway. The band has represented Kolbotn and Norway on many of its travels abroad. On several occasions the band has played alongside His Majesty the King’s Guards Band of Norway. In 2003 Kolbotn-Garden participated in the world championship for marching show bands in Monza, Italy, and achieved good results.

One of the proudest moments in the history of Kolbotn-Garden was in May 2008 when the band was invited to participate in the Norwegian Military Tattoo Parade in Oslo as the only civilian band. The band’s visit to Malta is being assisted by Intertravel and the Malta Tourism Authority.

The programme of activities consists of 5 displays in various localities and everyone is invited to attend any of these colourful events which are free of charge.