The French Army Signals Band (French: Musique des Transmissions de l'armée française; M-TRANS) is a French Army military band based in Rennes. Comprising 53 musicians, it is one of the seven bands of the army (excluding the bands of the regiments and military schools).[1] It is led by Captain Sandra Ansanay-Alex, who has served in this capacity since 2013.[2] She is the first female conductor in the history of the French Army.[3]
The band employs the Brittany region's Celtic heritage, with 2 bagpipes and a bombard player in its ranks.[4] It has participated in international events such as the Sevastopol Military Tattoo, the Spasskaya Tower Military Music Festival and Tattoo[5] and the Virginia International Tattoo. €67,340.96 was the sum of money that was collected during the concerts the band provided in 2019.[6]
Originally known as the Band of the 41st Infantry Regiment. It later became part of the North-West Army Region and in 2010 and was renamed to the Artillery Band. During its time as the Artillery Band, it was part of the 16th Artillery Group.[7] With the army reforms that became effective on 1 September 2016, it was renamed to the Signals Band.[8]