Tag: Terrance Noel MBE

The Melodians has been in discussion with the Tongan High Commission about a possible exchange with a brass band from Tonga in 2019.  The idea came about from a previous player with the Melodians – Lady Berkeley (or Dido as we know her), when she visited Tonga this year.  She was overwhelmed by the welcome she received from the Tongan people and delighted by the many creative and talented people she met.  She came back to the UK with one idea on her mind – to put forward a proposal for an exchange with a Tongan group to Terry Noel for him to take forward.  If funding can be raised, the Melodians could be visiting Tonga in 2019 to perform and the Queen Salote College Brass Band would come to the UK.

Viliami Lolohea, the First Secretary of the High Commission of the Kingdom of Tonga came to our rehearsal last night in order to meet us and start the discussions.

Here is a performance of the Queen Salote Brass Band in Tonga.

Looking forward to an interesting 2019.

If you have watched our 30th Anniversary video you will have seen a few seconds of the Trinidad Melodians performing in the grounds of the Royal Festival Hall during their visit to the UK and the Isle of Man in 1987.  It was this visit that prompted Terry Noel to form the Melodians Steel Orchestra UK in October 1987.  Well here is the full recording of the Trinidad Melodians performance of ‘What’s Love Got To Do With It’ by Tina Turner.

We hope you enjoy it (sorry about the slight hiccup in the middle but it was recorded over 30 years ago).