Who says you can't march in heels?! 7 years ago, I was marching across Freedom Square in #Kharkiv, #Ukraine...

With a Welsh brass band.

(A thread)

2/11. The occasion? The 70th anniversary of the liberation of Kharkiv from Nazi occupation in 1943.

3/11. We were parading in front of then President of Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych, along with Second World War veterans and thousands of VIP guests...

Live on national TV

4/11. I'd travelled there with @brasswales. We were lucky to be one of the few civilian bands to perform in the celebrations.
#music #brassband #musician

5/11. The rehearsals were tough! On our feet for hours in the heat, learning routines, rehearsing music and waiting for our turn to practice on the square.

Here's one of the massed band rehearsals #kharkiv #traveller

6/11. There was a really friendly, almost party atmosphere amongst the bands, all from different countries... chatting and taking photos with each other.

7/11. Watching Ukranian soldiers marching in a goose step was both impressive and intimidating! Everyone else stood in silence as they passed.

Totally unlike anything I'd seen before.

8/11. This statue of Lenin was HUGE... the biggest in Ukraine. But it no longer exists. After 50 years overlooking #FreedomSquare, it was torn down in riots the following year. You can read about that here https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-29405089

9/11. We ended our performance with the march, The Welshman, ringing out across Freedom Square.

10/11. Ukraine was just one of many trips.

Travelling with a band is certainly a unique way of seeing the world...

https://www.symphonicbrasswales.com/on-tour.html 

11/11.
...After all, how many people can say they marched past a Ukranian president, amongst international military, live on TV?
(And nailed it in heels)

Here's looking forward to the day international travel, making music and major events are all possible again soon.