National and regional partners include The Dalewool Brass band board, we also partner with charitable trusts, community arts organisations, small businesses, national providers of music equipment and technology, colleges, and choral groups.
The ex-students in Aotearoa who were in the TCT school brass band in Tonga, have willingly used their talents to teach locals how to play/use the brass band's musical instruments. TCAES have now a senior and junior band and classes for beginners. We develop our junior band, which is primarily high school students, by offering classes for new beginners every Saturday for 2 hours from 12-2 p.m. for children aged 8, 9, and 10. This beginners’ classes is also available to anyone/age group who wants to learn.
Our band is involved in community activities at large, we play at churches, community functions, funerals, weddings, christenings and other Tongan school alumni functions. Leading up to Christmas, we also visit and play for our elderly members and their families, entertain at Christmas functions and are open to any requirements/invitations from our community.
Community Involvement
ANZAC Memorial Day – Our brass band has been invited twice by the Auckland Council to play at the Onehunga ANZAC Day Memorial.
Mangere Extension Bridge – We played at the opening of the Mangere Extension Bridge with an invitation from the Auckland Council.
Junior Band - Our Junior Band has been in the Auckland Region Youth Band Competition for two (2) years running, and they came 2nd, twice.
Senior Band – Went to Wellington last year (2022) to the National Brass Competition and came 2nd in their division.
Marcellin College Project – We are currently working together with the Ministry of Education to provide brass band training for Pacific students at Marcellin College. It is aimed at teaching the students how to read, write, understand, and play the Tongan notation through a brass band. This programme has been led by three musical teachers during school terms.
The Senior and Junior brass band toured parts of Australia in 2022 as part of their development plans, visiting local churches and communities.
Our long-term goal is to form an orchestra by 2024-2025.