During the evening event, the 2025 charity project “A Gift from Heaven for the Bambino Gesù” was presented”
A year in flight to defend the skies of Italy and NATO, to bring help to those in difficulty or in danger, to stir emotions and carry the longest Italian Tricolour in the world on high, but also a year, as always, marked by solidarity towards less fortunate people: all of this was “recounted”, through music and images, at the event evening “Sparks of notes“, the charity concert by the Italian Air Force Band held on Wednesday 11 December in the splendid setting of the Sala Sinopoli of the’Auditorium Parco della Musica in Rome.
Many guests and authorities were present at the evening, hosted by Daniela Ferolla, presenter and well-known RAI face, including the Vice President of the Senate, Sen. Licia Ronzulli, the Vice-President of the Chamber of Deputies, the Hon. Giorgio Mulè, the Minister for Civil Protection and Sea Policies, Sen. Nello Musumeci, and the Undersecretary of State for Defence, the Hon. Matteo Perego di Cremnago.
The traditional end-of-year concert provided the Italian Air Force with the opportunity to ideally retrace 2024 and, in the presence of authorities and numerous guests, thank its personnel and their families for the many operational commitments that saw the Armed Forces play a leading role during the year, not only in Italy but also far beyond its borders: from Alaska to the Indo-Pacific, from the United States and Canada to Antarctica, from the Middle East to Africa, and once again even into Space.
A selection of highly successful songs, both Italian and international, masterfully performed by Italian Air Force Band, directed by Major Maestro Pantaleo Leonfranco Cammarano, accompanied with music the extraordinary images captured on the ground and in flight by Audiovisual Production Centre of the 5th Communication Department of the Air Force Staff. The Band also accompanied the voice of Antonino, a young Italian singer who previously won a talent show, who performed during the evening singing a number of songs. Also worthy of note is the participation of First Lieutenant Salvatore Zambataro, a former member of the Italian Air Force Band who is now retired, who exceptionally reunited with the AM Band to play the piece on the accordion The Gael by Dougie MacLean.
An evening of stock-taking after a year of operational and training activities, as well as charitable and solidarity initiatives. In fact, the solidarity project “A gift from Heaven for ONFA”that characterised 2024. During the course of the evening, the President of the National Opera for the Children of Airmen, Chief Inspector General (ret.) Basilio Di Martino, received from the Air Brigadier General Urbano Floreani, Head of the 5th Communication Department of the Air Force Staff, a symbolic cheque containing the funds raised over the course of the year which, thanks also to the support of the Aeronautica Militare Association, will go towards supporting the families of colleagues who passed away prematurely.
It General Di Martino, in their speech, emphasised: “The ONFA is the tool through which the Italian Air Force supports its children because they are our children. ‘Solidarity’ is the other side of the expression ‘spirit of service’: these are the two elements that characterise everyone who has worn and wears the blue uniform and they are also defining elements for everyone who wears the stars. We airmen have the pride of providing, through the ONFA, for those young people who are our children, the children of our less fortunate colleagues, those who were not able to watch them grow up and achieve their dreams. We try to help them do so and the Air Force, with its big heart, allows us to do so. Therefore I can only say thank you to the Air Force for what it has managed to do once again.”
On this occasion, it was also presented the’charity initiative for 2025 – “A Gift from Heaven for the Bambino Gesù” – the charity campaign that will feature in all Italian Air Force events next year to support the Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital in Rome, a centre of excellence for paediatric healthcare with which the Italian Air Force also has a well-established relationship of synergy and collaboration for the transport of young patients in imminent danger of life from across the national territory. The project, in addition to fundraising activities, also provides for broader collaboration for communication and awareness-raising activities on the themes of paediatric research and prevention.
“All Air Force bases came together in a joint effort to promote this initiative,”, stated that the General Floreani in commenting on the success of the 2024 charitable initiative. The one with the Bambino Gesù is an equally important partnership, which among other things sees us working together every day in a very delicate and complex field such as emergency medical flights, among the most difficult missions to carry out, due to the many coordinations and the many players involved, but also for the bonds and human relationships that are forged with the healthcare staff and with the families. Bonds that are hard to break, in which the professionalism of our personnel knows how to make a difference and I am sure that this year too we will know how to make a difference thanks to the generosity of the Air Force personnel and of all those who will want to contribute to this project. .
Also taking to the stage at the Auditorium to promote next year's solidarity project was the Prof Tiziano Onesti, President of the Bambino Gesù Paediatric Hospital, accompanied by Michele Mirabella, a well-known face of TV and biomedical journalism, who will be the testimonial for the initiative throughout 2025. “Collaboration with the Italian Air Force is truly a ‘godsend’ for the Bambino Gesù Hospital, Prof. Onesti underlined in his speech. “A partnership that has been renewed for many years and that, through numerous initiatives, has provided resources, but above all the great humanity and expertise of its women and men in support of young patients. The project we want to pursue together in 2025 – with the acquisition of a 3D Bioprinter, an advanced technology capable of creating complex biological products similar to human tissues – looks towards a future of innovation and progress. Thank you for being by our side and for your commitment to making this future possible”.
To close the evening, a speech by Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Air Force General Luca Goretti, who, addressing the audience in the hall, said: ”Through these images, through this music, today we wanted to thank all those who have experienced an intense year, full of sacrifices, but have done so with the usual spirit and passion that has distinguished our Armed Force for over 100 years. This is the Italian Air Force, this is the strength of a team that deserves proper recognition, because behind them, behind their commanders, there is a winning team ready to intervene anywhere in the world, at any time”Turning then directly to his staff, he expressed himself with words of profound gratitude:“I truly thank all of you, I thank all the commanders, all the men and women, all the presidents of the non-commissioned officers, junior ranks, and enlisted personnel who are here with us today. I am truly proud of you and what you have done”Finally, a special thanks went to the Italian Air Force Band.
The Italian Air Force Band, established on 1st July 1937, was inaugurated by maestro Pietro Mascagni, in whose presence the first concert was performed.
In addition to ceremonial duties, official ceremonies and events, the Band carries out extensive concert activities in Italy and abroad. Its performances and numerous tours are always met with enthusiastic acclaim from audiences and critics alike. Its vast repertoire encompasses various composers and musical genres ranging from the 17th century to the present day.
The Band, directed by Major Pantaleo Lanfranco Cammarano, is made up of musicians who have graduated from Italian conservatoires and gain entry through a public competition.
