Valery Khalilov, Russian military musician and composer (born 1952)

Valery Mikhailovich Khalilov was an Uzbek-born Russian military band conductor and composer. A lieutenant general in the Russian military, he was the Senior Director of Music of the Military Band Service of the Armed Forces of Russia and Chief Military Conductor, most famously conducting the massed Russian military bands at the annual "Victory Day" parade held in the Moscow's Red Square a record 14 times. He died when the plane he was on, en route to Syria, crashed into the Black Sea off Sochi, Russia.

December 25 is the 359th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; six days remain until the end of the year.