Remembering Penang’s Municipal Band
By Paul Augustin, Kelvyn Yeang
April 2022 FEATURE
DID YOU KNOW that in the late 1800s, Penang had its very own municipal band? The exact year of its formation remains unclear; newspaper clippings from January 8, 1948 and April 9, 1977 respectively, reported the band being established around the 1870s. But according to Penang Past and Present (1786-1963), published by the George Town City Council, it was formed in 1890, when the Governor sanctioned a contribution from the Municipal funds towards the maintenance of the Town Band.The story...
Paul Augustin
is the director of Penang House of Music, and founder and festival director of the Penang Island Jazz Festival.
Kelvyn Yeang
Proficient in multiple creative disciplines, Kelvyn Yeang is a musician by night and media content creator by day. When he is not writing, designing, or creating, Kelvyn wanders the streets of George Town in search of a good story and a cup of coffee.
