The Marionettes Chorale was formed in 1963 by Jocelyn Pierre and June Williams-Thorne to compete in the 1964 Music Festival. Since 1974, The Marionettes have been directed and conducted by Gretta Taylor, assisted by Susan Dore and a committee headed by founder member Joanne Mendes. In 1995, the Marionettes Youth Chorale was formed. It comprises youngsters from some thirty learning institutions in north Trinidad, and appears regularly alongside its adult counterpart. The Marionettes’ repertoire spans a wide range of musical styles, from 16th-century Gabrielli to 20th-century Messiaen, as well as opera, spirituals, Caribbean and international folk songs, and calypso. It has always championed Trinidad and Tobago’s music, which it has performed extensively on overseas tours. The Marionettes were one of the first to blend voices with steel in the 1960s, and have been accompanied by many top steel orchestras — Pan Am North Stars, Trinidad All Stars, Renegades, Renegades Youth Orchestra, Desperadoes and Skiffle Bunch. TOURS • 1965: Grenada; Barbados; and St Vincent • 1967: Curaçao; Jamaica; New York, U.S.A (United Nations); Toronto and Montreal (Carifta Expo ‘67) in Canada • 1969: Grenada (Carifta Expo ‘69) • 1981: London, England (Commonwealth Institute); Llangollen,Wales (International Eisteddfod) • 1984: London, England; Cork, Ireland (Cork International Choral Festival) • 1992: London (sold-out concert at St. Martin-in-the-Fields), Middlesbrough (International Choral Festival), York, and Cambridge in England; Edinburgh and Glasgow in Scotland • 1997: Miami, Mansfield College (Pennsylvania), Philadelphia, Washington DC (Hall of the Americas), Princeton University, New York (Medgar Evers College) • 2004: San Jose and Limon, Costa Rica • Keys to the City of Port of Spain (1992) • Port of Spain Corporation Achievement Award for sterling contribition to the field of music (1999) • Trinidad & Tobago Icon (History Makers) Award for distinguished service to Trinidad & Tobago (2002) • Trinidad & Tobago I.B.C. Inc. (Independence Ball Committee, Miami, FL, U.S.A) Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Arts and Culture of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago (2006) TRINIDAD & TOBAGO MUSIC FESTIVAL PRIZES • 1980: o Ashdown Cup (Best religious open choir over 20 singers) o Lion’s Trophy (Most Outstanding Choir of the Festival) o JCC Cup (Best Adult Choir) • 1968: o Mary Elizabeth Evans Cup for Best Religious & Church Choir o Merchants Trophy for Best Adult ‘X’ Class Choir o Olive Walke Shield for Best All Round Choir o Founder’s Trophy (May Johnstone Commemoration Trophy) for Most Outstanding Performance of the Festival • 1966 o JCC Cup for Best Adult Choir o Mary Elizabeth Evans Cup for Best Religious & Church Choir • 1964 o JCC Cup for Best Adult Choir INTERNATIONAL PRIZES • Ruth Railton Prize for the most outstanding contribution by a visiting group at the Cork International Choral and Dance Festival (Ireland, 1984) • 2nd place in Madrigal Choirs at the Cork International Choral and Dance Festival (Ireland, 1984) • 2nd place in Mixed Choirs Cork International Choral and Dance Festival (Ireland, 1984) • 2nd place in Mixed Choirs at the Middlesbrough International Choral Festival (England, 1992)