Banda do Sagrado Coração de Jesus de Toronto: History and Tradition
In this eposide of the LusoCanada Podcast, we speak with the current conductor of Banda do Sagrado Coração de Jesus de Toronto, Sandro Melo. He tells us about the history of the band, which was founded in the Santa Cruz Parish but that now is associated with Saint Helen’s Parish where it practices and keeps its instruments. Melo also talks about his involvement with the band, which began as soon as he arrived in Canada. Although he initially started as a musician, the band found itself without a conductor and, against his will at the time, he was pushed into leading the band, becoming an improbable conductor. Although Sandro Melo prefers to play rather than lead, he is proud of his work with the band. This is a conversation about history, love for music, the preservation of a crucial cultural element and the promotion of music as a tool to celebrate tradition and prepare the next generations of musicians.