22/08/2026
Week 4: Chief Petty Officer Musician Svetlana Yaroslavskaya, Bandmaster RAN Band WA
"My name is Svetlana and I am Chief Petty Officer Musician in charge of RAN Band Western Australia based in Perth.
After enjoying my 18-year long career as a full-time Musician (Flute and Piccolo) in the RAN Band Sydney and RAN Band Melbourne: HMAS Cerberus, I have moved to Darwin and then to Perth, as a Bandmaster.
After moving to Australia in 2005 as a professional flautist with experience in teaching and performing with Symphony Orchestras, I was excited to learn about employment opportunities with the Navy Band for full-time musicians. As I did not know anyone personally in the , I went through a standard on-line application process with first. An ADF Careers officer connected me with the RAN Band Audition Coordinator to find out more about specifics of Military Band career and to book my audition date.
After joining RAN Band Sydney in 2007 posted to HMAS Kuttabul, I discovered a life of the Navy Band Musician had a lot of variety and was professionally exciting and demanding. In addition to the expected parade band street marches and remembrance ceremonies, I was playing in a Wind Orchestra performing and recording large-scale compositions, including newly commissioned works by Australian artists.
Working alongside top-tier Navy Band musicians as part of virtuosic chamber ensembles, I had an honour of performing for multiple Royal and military dignitaries during international and local engagements.
My career highlights include participation in international engagements - ANZAC Day in Gallipoli and in France, trips to Hawaii, USA with the RAN Fleet Band on board HMAS Canberra III, Coronation of His Majesty King of Tonga, and more. I was proud to appear as a soloist with RAN Band Sydney on multiple occasions, including at City Recital Hall, Sydney and ABC Studios Ultimo, Sydney.
Alongside my Navy career, I have enjoyed opportunities for professional development with incredible symphony orchestras as a Soloist and Principal Flute. Collaboration with THE METROPOLITAN ORCHESTRA (TMO) and Darwin Symphony Orchestra, to name a few, have enriched my life as an orchestral musician and have helped forge long-lasting friendships within the musical communities.
In my new role as a Bandmaster of the , I work with an incredible team of talented Reserve musicians highly dedicated to Service to the RAN and the ADF. The team of 16 musicians support an array of community and charity events in the region as well as to significant ceremonial events. My most memorable moments with the RAN Band WA were leading the band as a Drum Major at the RSL WA Anzac Day Street March in Perth, conducting a Ceremonial Sunset at HMAS Stirling and conducting HMAS Nizam Memorial Service at Cape Leeuwin for "N" Class Destroyers Association WA in 2026."
