Terry Noel (Terrance), who formed the Melodians Steel Orchestra UK in October 1987, and has been the Leader of the Orchestra ever since, was awarded an MBE for services to Music in the New Year’s Honours 2015.
The MBE was presented to him by HM Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle on Friday 6th March. Terry was accompanied by his wife and daughters to this memorable event.
Terry had a quick chat to the Queen who remembered the Melodians from when they played at Windsor Castle, Buckingham Palace Garden Parties and Commonwealth Day Services in Westminster Abbey.
Terry said after the event “It was a fantastic and memorable day. It was nice to know the Queen remembered the Melodians and enjoyed their playing.”
The 2014 Christmas Concert was a great success and finished with a well-deserved and enthusiastic round of applause from the audience. The concert was on Saturday 13th December at Henry Cavendish School in Balham which is their base.
Some comments from their fans at the concert: “This was the best concert ever!”, “The Melodians are getting better every year I come!” and especially “Loved seeing the young ones playing”.
The concert started with three spots by some of the groups from the Henry Cavendish School Steel Pan Club. These young players aged 10 to 11 are tutored by Cheynne from the Melodians using the Melodians’ instruments. Class 6C played the theme from Skyfall, Class 6W played Yellow Bird and the Steel Pan Club played Lambada. The group have developed tremendously since the previous year and there was an enthusiastic response from the audience.
The Melodians then played a varied selection of 9 pieces from their repertoire including 3 new additions that they learnt during the year: Greensleeves, Autumn Leaves and Get Lucky. They finished with a topical piece that they have brought back recently ‘Walking in the Air’.
After the speeches, the Mayor of Lambeth, Councillor Adedamola Aminu presented the awards:
The Terry Noel Trophy for Best Attendance went to Rebecca Luff Smith
The Robert Thompson Trophy for Most Promising Player also went to Rebecca Luff Smith
The Jeremy Deller Trophy for Most Improved Player went to Yvette Walcott
The British Council Trophy for Player of the Year went to Richard Hobson
There were also certificates presented to 4 of the young players (Kiya Persad, Giovanna Recchia, Ella Louise Nguyen and Rianna Hobson for their dedication to Pan Playing within the Melodians).
Rebecca receives her award for Best AttendanceSecond Award for Rebecca – Most Promising Player
Award to Yvette for Most Improved PlayerPlayer of the Year goes to Richard
The young players awarded certificates for dedication to pan playing
There was a big rush to buy the Melodians new CD called ‘Melodians Magic’ which was released on 11th December and was on sale at the Concert. Plus there were T shirts, designed by Jeremy Deller and the Fraser Muggeridge Studio, on sale as featured in their concert at the Turner Contemporary in Margate in October. These are all fund-raising efforts to keep the Melodians going and raised over £1000 for them.
Melodians Magic CD can be purchased via the CDs page.
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