The 2024 Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo Cast!
We’re always searching for new adventures, and in that stretch of air where the sky meets the earth and the sea, we find new horizons.
We see how far we’ve come and how far we have to go. This summer, the possibilities are endless.
INTERNATIONAL CAST
TEAM AIRTIME GERMANY
We’re taking summer fun to the extreme. They’re back by popular demand. Edge-of-your-seat excitement from this German group of dirt bike riders who’ve performed breathtaking stunts combined with stellar lights and sound shows all over Europe. Their cycling ‘aerobatics’ will kiss the horizon line goodbye and add a new dimension to HORIZONS!
Marinemusikkorps Wilhelmshaven (or Wilhelmshaven Marine Music Corps), was officially commissioned in October 2019 to ceremonially support the important coastal city of Wilhelmshaven—there are around 9,000 members of the Bundeswehr stationed there—through the storied and dignified tradition of musical accompaniment. Now a strong symphonic wind orchestra of 56 musicians, Marinemusikkorps Wilhelmshaven performs at charity concerts, outdoor concerts, military ceremonials, and the greetings and farewells of ship crews.
JAMBO BROTHERS KENYA Proudly Supported by Labrador Sea (2004) Inc.
High-energy meets high-flying fun with the Jambo Brothers, who are coming all the way from Kenya to appear in the Tattoo! This team of five fantastic acrobats blend African rhythms and acrobatics with American-style entertainment: you won’t want to miss them. When their set list includes human pyramids, rope skipping stunts, limbo, and somersaults choreographed to a lively soundtrack, you know you’re in for a fantastic show.
THE CENTRAL BAND OF THE ROYAL AIR FORCE UNITED KINGDOM
Royal Air Force Music Services was established in 1918 by Sir Henry Walford Davies and comprises three Regular Bands, a Salon Orchestra, and a Reserve Band. Based at RAF Northolt and RAF Cranwell, RAF Music provides optimum musical support for the Royal Air Force in order to enhance public perception, support State Ceremonial and achieve influence to further Defence and National interests.
Established in 1920, the Central Band of the Royal Air Force was one of the first military bands to broadcast on the BBC, and is still the most frequently featured military band on air.
Sergeant Matt Walker joined the Royal Air Force as a Percussionist in October 2006 and was posted to the Central Band of the RAF in 2013. In 2016, he was appointed Principal Percussionist of the Central Band of the RAF. Career highlights include leading the RAF Squadronaires, providing vocals for the world premiere of Chris Martin’s Invictus Anthem, and performing with Sir Tom Jones during the Royal British Legion’s Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall.
The King’s Colour Squadron is the RAF’s only dedicated ceremonial unit, and has the privilege to be the custodians of the King’s Colour for the Royal Air Force. The Squadron is responsible for representing the Royal Air Force at high profile events on both state and national ceremonial occasions including the repatriation of the late Queen Elizabeth II, the Coronation of King Charles III as well as mounting Guard at the London Palaces.
The Squadron, formed in 1960, but tracing lineage back to the 1920s has a unique dual-role, deploying as an RAF Regiment field squadron, as 63 Squadron RAF Regiment. The Squadron has seen active service in; the second world war, the Suez Campaign, the Falklands war and in more recent years conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Squadron is currently committed to operations in the Middle East defending the Royal Air Force.
THE MUSIC MAN PROJECT UNITED KINGDOM Proudly Supported by Easter Seals Nova Scotia and TEAM LEWIS
The Music Man Project is a multi-award winning, world record-breaking music education charity for people with learning disabilities. They’ve mounted critically acclaimed original productions at the Royal Albert Hall and London Palladium; they’ve performed for King Charles and the Royal Family; they’ve appeared on radio and television; and they’ve even recorded a Top 10 Christmas single with the His Majesty’s Bands of the Royal Marines!
MIDDLESEX COUNTY VOLUNTEERS FIFES & DRUMS UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
The Middlesex County Volunteers Fifes & Drums perform to educate and entertain. At the heart of their repertoire are traditional tunes dating back to the American Independence War; martial, dance and folk music from the centuries since; and contemporary compositions. No matter what they perform, these Boston-area musicians are sure to raise the roof on our HORIZONS show, so make sure you have tickets!
The Tattoo can’t go on without the support of the Canadian Armed Forces and we’re so thrilled to have so many Canadian Armed Forces bands augmenting our HORIZONS show this year!
Led by the Stadacona Band of the Royal Canadian Navy, a staple band at the Tattoo from the very first show, military musicians are coming from across Canada to support the Canadian Armed Forces and the Tattoo.
This includes musicians from the Central Band of the Canadian Armed Forces, the Royal Canadian Air Force Band, the Band of the Ceremonial Guard, 14 Wing Greenwood Brass and Reed Band, 5th Canadian Division Composite Band, and the Musique du 438e Escadron Tactique d’hélicoptères coming together for the show!
PO1 Brad Davidge and PO2 Natalie Alcorn will perform as vocal soloists; they’re both here with the Stadacona Band of the Royal Canadian Navy. The Royal Canadian Electrical Mechanical Engineers (RCEME) is coming with a Jiffy Jeep display to mark their 80th anniversary; and of course, the Canadian Cadets are coming too! They’ll be on stage as performers and more behind the scenes helping out with special events.
The Tattoo Massed Pipes & Drums includes Canadian Armed Forces pipers and drummers from:
12 Wing Shearwater Pipes & Drums
14 Wing Greenwood Pipes & Drums
2nd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Pipes & Drums
The Toronto Scottish (Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mothers’ Own) Regiment Pipes & Drums
The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary’s) Pipes & Drums
The Nova Scotia Highlanders Pipes & Drums
See the Canadian Armed Forces on full display at HORIZONS!
STADACONA BAND OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN NAVY
The Tattoo’s pit band from the very beginning, the Stadacona Band of the Royal Canadian Navy is the official military band of Maritime Forces Atlantic and represents the East Coast Navy at ceremonial events. The Stadacona Band of the Royal Canadian Navy has been active in the province since 1940 and brings a unique blend of tradition and excellence to every stage they grace!
Photo by Cpl Bastien Beaucage Musicians from the Central Band of the Canadian Armed Forces will augment the Canadian Armed Forces bands at this year’s show. Based in the National Capital Region, the Central Band has been performing since 1940 at governmental, ceremonial and other events across Canada and around the world. The Band is one of six full-time Regular Force military bands in the Canadian Armed Forces.
Musicians from the Royal Canadian Air Force Band will augment the Canadian Armed Forces bands at this year’s show. The RCAF Band performs around Canada and the world on behalf of the Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian Government and is renowned for its varied ensembles and the strength of its musicians!
Musicians from the Band of the Ceremonial Guard will augment the Canadian Armed Forces bands at this year’s show. The Band is attached to the Canadian Forces Ceremonial Guard in the capital region and performs at the Changing the Guard ceremony on Parliament Hill. The Band comprises musicians from the Royal Canadian Air Force, the Royal Canadian Navy, and the Canadian Army.
Musicians from the 14 Wing Greenwood Brass and Reed Band will augment the Canadian Armed Forces bands at this year’s show. Musicians from the 14 Wing Greenwood Brass and Reed Band will augment the Canadian Armed Forces bands at this year’s show.
5th CANADIAN DIVISION COMPOSITE BAND
The 5th Canadian Division Composite Band is part of the Full Time Summer Employment Program of the Canadian Armed Forces Primary Reserve. The band supports Regular and Reserve Force units in the Atlantic region at events. At this summer’s show, the 5th Canadian Division Composite Band is comprised of members from the 36 Canadian Brigade Group (NS) Band in Halifax, Nova Scotia and the Band of the 3rd Field Regiment of the Royal Canadian Artillery in Saint John, New Brunswick.
Musicians from the Musique du 438e Escadron Tactique d’hélicoptères (438 Squadron Band) will augment the Canadian Armed Forces bands at this year’s show. The 438 Squadron Band supports the military and civilian community in the Greater Montreal Area and is made up of musicians who have graduated from the most prestigious universities and conservatories in North America.
A world-class performer, he returns once again this year to thrill us with his extraordinary talent! Celebrated not only as a musician but also as a composer, arranger, and musical director, PO1 Davidge boasts a versatile four-octave vocal range and mastery of the guitar, consistently delivering show-stopping performances at the Tattoo each year!
PO2 NATALIE ALCORN
Coming from a family of professional musicians and having studied at some of the most prestigious music schools in North America, PO2 Natalie Alcorn is known for her musical versatility and natural vocal prowess. She has performed for audiences worldwide, and now posted home to Nova Scotia, Natalie is making her Tattoo debut!
RCEME JIFFY JEEP TEAM
The Royal Canadian Electrical Mechanical Engineers (RCEME) celebrates its 80th anniversary this year. Its mission now is to provide technical leadership and land equipment engineering expertise. A team from the RCEME is here with the Jiffy Jeep to show a practical skills demonstration on how to quickly disassemble and reassemble a jeep. How fast can they do it? We’ll find out!
A program for youth between the ages of 12-19, the cadet program offers once in a lifetime opportunities that develop leadership, citizenship, and self-confidence. From flying, sailing, to going on expeditions– your adventure starts here. The Tattoo is supported this year by Canadian Cadets onstage and behind the scenes: musicians and performers will augment the show while backstage, Protocol Cadets will help with dignitaries and other duties.
At only 18 years old, DeeDee Austin has proven her prowess as one of the East Coast’s most engaging and talented singer/songwriters. She’s won many awards including Music Nova Scotia’s Indigenous Artist of the Year in 2023 and the Young Canadian SOCAN Songwriter of the Year in 2022. DeeDee has released two EPs: Stay Dancin’ and Stepping Stones has performed all over the East Coast at events like the North American Indigenous Games, the Canada Games, the National Centre for Truth and Reconiliation Concert, the Wildfire Recovery Concert, Stan Rogers Fest, Riverfront Fest, and more, and has even been featured on the CBC’s Concert Series ‘Road to the JUNOS’.
Karen Robinson is a Nova Scotian singer, songwriter and music video creator who’s released six albums—her latest, The Flip Side: Well, what do we have here! was nominated for Pop Album of the Year in 2023 at the Music Nova Scotia Awards. You’ve probably seen her on Eastlink or CTV; or heard her on CBC Radio and the many shows she’s done around Nova Scotia. Her award-winning music videos have been shown at short film festivals around the world; and she’s an East Coast Music Award nominee for Music Video Director of the Year, 2024! Now she’s coming to the Tattoo for a delightful performance you won’t want to miss!
MAGGIE THE GOALIE Proudly Supported by Paw Quest Petcare
She’s an incredible hockey goalie, she’s only three years old, she’s Maggie the Goalie and she’s in the Tattoo this summer! Maggie the Goalie is a German Shepherd hailing from Tracadie, New Brunswick, who has performed on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, appeared at the 2024 Montreal Canadiens Skills Competition and competed on Canada’s Got Talent Season 3—she’ll be back for season 4 soon. Maggie loves catching foam hockey pucks and thinks her job is hockey goalie, and we can’t wait for you to meet her this summer!
THE PARIS PORT DOVER PIPE BAND Proudly Supported by The Scots
Pipe Major Gordon Black leads this sterling pipe band and the excellence on display at their performances is definitely something you’ll want to see. They’ve performed around the world at tattoos in Edinburgh, Basel, and Virginia, at Juno Beach celebrations, and with the likes of Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Rod Stewart, and André Rieu, and now they’re coming to the Tattoo!
TATTOO MASSED PIPES & DRUMS Proudly Supported by The Scots
What’s a Tattoo without the Massed Pipes & Drums! The audiences love to hear the skirl of the pipe and the bang of the drum every year: it’s Tattoo tradition! Stay tuned this spring as we share the piping and drumming units from across the country that will be performing with the Tattoo Massed Pipes & Drums this summer!
TATTOO HIGHLAND DANCE TEAM Proudly Supported by The Scots
The talented dancers from the Tattoo Highland Dance Team come from all corners of the map to perform in the Tattoo, and without their graceful and powerful dance routines, the show wouldn’t be complete! They’ve been a part of the Tattoo from the very beginning and we’re so excited to have them back this summer!
A staple for over 40 years, the Tattoo Choir adds musical depth to the show’s most touching scenes. At the helm is Choral Director Patricia Tupper, who has led the Choir for over a decade. The many talented vocalists who make up the Tattoo Choir come from all over Halifax to lend their voices to this world-class show.
TATTOO CHILDREN’S CHORUS
Youngsters from around the Halifax Regional Municipality make up this fun chorus. You’ll delight in seeing these talented tots in the show; whenever they’re on the floor, it’s always a fun time! The Tattoo Children’s Chorus is led by Martha Healy.
TATTOO FANFARE TRUMPETERS
Those shorts bursts of fanciful music you hear? They’re all thanks to the Tattoo Fanfare Trumpeters! Watch for them at key musical moments in the show, you’ll spot them with their long fanfare trumpets and their distinctive Tudor-era costumes they’re well-known for!
TATTOO EXTRAS
You’ll spot the Tattoo Extras scattered throughout the show; every year, a dedicated team of performers come in and adapt their talents to the historical themes of the show. This year, their work will be inspired by HORIZONS, celebrating RCAF100 and the history of flight!
“We have never missed a performance. Our family love the pageantry. Show has developed into a well-rounded presentation. Well done.”
Roger Angevine
Photos by Stoo Metz, David Baillieul, Hamish Gordon & others.
