ArtistDirect News
Fijian Musician Steps In for U.S. Army 25th Infantry Division Band at Suva Independence Day Concert
When the U.S. Army’s 25th Infantry Division Band found itself without a bassist after a flight from the Marshall Islands, the solution arrived at 3 a.m. on July 1, 2026, in the form of Cpl. Lawrance Delanimati. The Fijian band specialist and section commander with the Republic of Fiji Military Forces was called on short notice to step into the U.S. soldiers’ rock ensemble for the Suva Independence Day celebration.
Delanimati landed in Suva, met the U.S. musicians at the U.S. Embassy, and spent an hour rehearsing the set list he received from SSG Chelsea Catalone. The tight schedule paid off when, after just one rehearsal, the two groups performed the embassy’s sound‑check for the U.S. 250th Independence Day celebration. The following evening, Delanimati joined the Republic of Fiji Military Forces Band for a joint concert at Sukuna Park, where the combined forces entertained a local crowd.
A professional military musician since enlisting in 2014, Delanimati’s career has spanned peace‑keeping missions in Baghdad, Iraq, and Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula. In 2025 he completed a 10‑month Mutual Assistance Program Music Course with the New Zealand Army Band, graduating as the program’s Top MAP Student of the Year. That same year he earned Trinity College London Grade 7 Practical and Theory qualifications.
According to the DVIDS report, Delanimati was contacted on Monday while the U.S. band was still in flight. "I was contacted on Monday while the band was still flying in," he said. "They explained the situation and asked if I could fill in. It was a challenge, but it was also an opportunity I couldn't pass up." He received the bass music from SSG Chelsea Catalone and had to learn it in an hour. "After one rehearsal, we were performing," he recalled.
Delanimati described the experience as a highlight of his career. "Playing with the 25th Infantry Division Band was an absolute thrill," he said. "Music has been a part of my life since high school, and performing with the American musicians felt natural once we started playing." He added that the collaboration demonstrated the power of music to build friendship across cultures. "When people see military bands performing together, they see friendship," he said. "Music brings people together no matter where they're from."
The event illustrates a growing trend of cross‑cultural military music diplomacy. The 25th Infantry Division Band’s rock ensemble, known for blending traditional military music with contemporary styles, has performed in joint concerts with allied forces in the Pacific. Such collaborations reinforce ties between the United States and partner nations, providing a platform for cultural exchange and mutual respect.
The performances in Suva concluded with a final set at Sukuna Park, where the combined forces entertained local audiences. The collaboration is remembered not only for the music but also for the sense of partnership it fostered between the Republic of Fiji Military Forces and the U.S. Army. The event remains a testament to the role of music in bridging national and cultural divides.
Delanimati landed in Suva, met the U.S. musicians at the U.S. Embassy, and spent an hour rehearsing the set list he received from SSG Chelsea Catalone. The tight schedule paid off when, after just one rehearsal, the two groups performed the embassy’s sound‑check for the U.S. 250th Independence Day celebration. The following evening, Delanimati joined the Republic of Fiji Military Forces Band for a joint concert at Sukuna Park, where the combined forces entertained a local crowd.
A professional military musician since enlisting in 2014, Delanimati’s career has spanned peace‑keeping missions in Baghdad, Iraq, and Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula. In 2025 he completed a 10‑month Mutual Assistance Program Music Course with the New Zealand Army Band, graduating as the program’s Top MAP Student of the Year. That same year he earned Trinity College London Grade 7 Practical and Theory qualifications.
According to the DVIDS report, Delanimati was contacted on Monday while the U.S. band was still in flight. "I was contacted on Monday while the band was still flying in," he said. "They explained the situation and asked if I could fill in. It was a challenge, but it was also an opportunity I couldn't pass up." He received the bass music from SSG Chelsea Catalone and had to learn it in an hour. "After one rehearsal, we were performing," he recalled.
Delanimati described the experience as a highlight of his career. "Playing with the 25th Infantry Division Band was an absolute thrill," he said. "Music has been a part of my life since high school, and performing with the American musicians felt natural once we started playing." He added that the collaboration demonstrated the power of music to build friendship across cultures. "When people see military bands performing together, they see friendship," he said. "Music brings people together no matter where they're from."
The event illustrates a growing trend of cross‑cultural military music diplomacy. The 25th Infantry Division Band’s rock ensemble, known for blending traditional military music with contemporary styles, has performed in joint concerts with allied forces in the Pacific. Such collaborations reinforce ties between the United States and partner nations, providing a platform for cultural exchange and mutual respect.
The performances in Suva concluded with a final set at Sukuna Park, where the combined forces entertained local audiences. The collaboration is remembered not only for the music but also for the sense of partnership it fostered between the Republic of Fiji Military Forces and the U.S. Army. The event remains a testament to the role of music in bridging national and cultural divides.