Menai Bridge Band

Menai Bridge Band was established sometime during the 1890’s with its earliest recorded performance taking place on 22nd June 1897 on the pier. During the early years the members were asked to sign a membership agreement in which they agreed to abide by the rules of the Band. The first member to sign was a Mr C Roberts of Chapel Street, who signed on 24th July 1899.

The first contest that the Band are known to have competed in was at Llanfairfechan on 28th December 1901. Their second contest was a few days later on New Year’s Eve 1901 in Colwyn Bay. For these two contests different pieces of music were used as test pieces, one of which was a Gilbert & Sullivan piece.

During the summer months the Band would have performed for the public on the bandstand by the pier. They would play every other Saturday, with Menai Bridge Orchestra playing the other weeks. This continued every summer from 1905 until during the Second World War, when both ensembles lost many members.

In 1903, the first conductor of the Band, Captain George Senogles, bought an old chapel on Mount Street in order to give the Band a permanent home. The bandroom, as it is now known, is still home to the Band and has been refurbished with the help of lottery funding.

Menai Bridge Band is always busy, with a full calendar of engagements and the occasional brass band contest. It prides itself on its friendly and welcoming atmosphere and is very proud of its connections with the town from which it takes its name.