António Francisco Rei Menino was born in Lisbon and began his musical studies at the age of 10, with his father. He did is musical studies at the National Conservatory in Lisbon, in the class of Professors Marcos Romão dos Reis, António Saiote and Jorge Trindade, and lately has been his assistant at the Conservatory. Years late, he studied at Escola Superior de Música de Lisboa, in the class of Professor Francisco Ribeiro.
Since 1981 to 2015 has been part of the Portuguese Navy Band, where he was since 1983 first principal clarinet, soloist, and teacher. During those years, he had the opportunity to perform many pieces for solo clarinet, emphasis on the two Clarinet Concertos from C. M. von Weber, Três Improvisoa for Clarinet and Wind Orchestra from Marcos Romão dos Reis, work dedicated to him by the composer, and the 2nd Clarinet Concerto by Oscar Navarro.
During those years, Menino had made recordings to R.T.P. and R.D.P. (Public Portuguese TV and Radio), as many concerts in his country and beyond borders, like the USA, Spain, France, Italy, Swiss, Belgium and Poland and had collaborated with many Chamber Music Groups, playing solo or recital.
For many years he was First Solo Clarinet at Orchestra Sinfonia B and collaborated with many orchestras such as S. Carlos’ National Theatre Orchestra and Youth Symphonic Orchestra. He taught at National Conservatory in Lisbon and Professional Music School of Almada.
He also has been jury member at the 1st Lisbon International Clarinet Competition with names like Karl Leister, David Krakaeur, Justo Sanz, Jean-Sebastian Béreau and António Moreira Jorge.
For the last 25 years Menino started to work as conductor with wind bands all across the country, and during his work he had the opportunity to learn with great names in that field. Since 2001 he participated in several conducting workshops with Maestro Jo Conjaerts (Teacher at Maastricht Conservatory). Since 2009, he collaborated often with Maestro Mitchell Fennel (Coordinator and Teacher of Music Department of Fullerton University, USA).
Since 2010 to 2015 had conducted regularly the Portuguese Navy Band, by invitation of their chiefs, Commandant Silva Ribeiro and Commandant Délio Gonçalves. He also conducted the California State University Wind Ensemble of Fullerton (USA), integrated in their European tour. In 2014 Menino received the honorable invitation to conduct a concert on Meng Concert Hall of California State University Fullerton - School of Music with the University Wind Symphony. This concert was named Music from Portugal. In 2015 and 2016 was invited to teach and conduct a Masterclass for Wind band and Conductors at Conservatório Regional do Alto Alentejo.
During his activity as a conductor, he won many prizes at Wind Band Competitions, such as in Valência (Spain, 2003), Riva del Garda (Italy, 2005), Vila Franca de Xira (Portugal, 2006, 2010, 2012 and 2014), CIB Filarmonia D’Ouro – Santa Maria da Feira (Portugal, 2016) and VI Concurso de Bandas Filarmónicas de Braga (Portugal, 2019). All this prizes were won with Banda da Sociedade Imparcial 15 de Janeiro de 1898 – Alcochete and Banda da Sociedade Filarmónica Harmonia Reguenguense – Reguengos de Monsaraz.
Currently he is Artistic Director and Conductor of Banda da Sociedade Imparcial 15 de Janeiro de 1898 – Alcochete and Banda da Sociedade Filarmónica Harmonia Reguenguense – Reguengos de Monsaraz.
