Olympic gold medallist welcomed to 'Army Music HQ'
Serving officer and Olympic gold medallist Captain Heather Stanning visited Army musicians at Kneller Hall this week.
Captain Heather Stanning addresses members of the Corps of Army Music during her visit to the Royal Military School of Music [Picture: Sergeant Adrian Harlen, Crown Copyright/MOD 2012]
Captain Stanning, from 32 Regiment Royal Artillery, received a ‘fanfare’ welcome to Kneller Hall, which is home to both the Corps of Army Music (CAMUS) and the Royal Military School of Music.
The fanfare, composed by Student Bandmaster Robert Smith and performed by the fanfare team of the Band of the Welsh Guards, was written in recognition of Captain Stanning’s day-to-day pursuit of excellence culminating in her outstanding achievement of winning a gold medal for rowing at the London Olympic Games earlier this year.
Colonel Barry Jenkins, Director CAMUS, introduced Captain Stanning to members of Rendle VC Troop (Phase 2). He reflected on how her contribution had raised the Army’s profile in the public consciousness by competing and winning at the highest sporting level.
Captain Heather Stanning poses with members of the Corps of Army Music on the bandstand at Kneller Hall [Picture: Sergeant Adrian Harlen, Crown Copyright/MOD 2012]
Captain Stanning thanked everyone at Kneller Hall for her fanfare and likened her approach to training to composing music. She said:
You have to plan every stroke of the race in order to meet the standard required to deliver results; in music you do the same for each and every note.
Colonel Jenkins took the opportunity to also recognise the tremendous efforts of CAMUS bands for the contribution they made to the Olympics by playing at many of the events, for which they received national media coverage.
Captain Stanning returned to her base in Larkhill, Wiltshire, in September after her achievement of winning the first gold medal for Great Britain at the London 2012 Olympic Games in the women’s pairs rowing competition.