Marching band to step out in British style
Lake Zurich High School's marching band will ring in the New Year across the pond.
The 135-member band will participate in London's 22nd annual New Year's Day Parade, billed as one of the largest in the world.
British organizers who visited the high school Monday to see the band perform say it will be viewed by up to 1 million spectators and millions more will watch on television.
"Knowing that we're going to be marching in front of a million people, that's just such an honor and it feels really good," said percussionist Richie Ferolo, 17, a Lake Zurich band veteran.
It's the second time Lake Zurich's band has been invited to London's parade. It is one of 12 marching bands from the United States scheduled to perform.
"They are a great sensation and we are aching to have them back again," said Roger Bramble, Queen Elizabeth II's deputy Lord Lieutenant for Greater London, who leads England's annual parade.
Lake Zurich's band was tapped for an encore act after a 2003 performance in which the band stood out despite marching in the rain, said Bob Bone, London's New Year's Day Parade executive director.
"We really did not get the best out of them because of the ghastly weather that year," Bone said.
Lake Zurich also stood out because of band director Josh Thompson's teaching philosophy, Bone said.
"He thinks it is about performance and not competition. That's why the band shone out to us about five years ago the first time that we invited them," he said.
Most of the marching bands in London's parade come from the United States because they are more spectacular, organizers said.
"We may have better brass bands in the United Kingdom and better show bands in Europe, but high school and college marching bands from America, they are the best," Bone said.
That may be a tough standard to live up to for students.
"I don't think I'm nervous now, but when I get there I think I'm going to be nervous about all the people because we've never really had that big of a crowd," said Lake Zurich percussionist Andrew Wilkin, 17. "It will be a reason for us to focus and perform to the top of our ability."
It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for students, said Lake Zurich Unit District 95 Superintendent Brian Knutson. "Part of our mission is to create global learners," he said.
The band and 37 parent and district chaperones will be in London Dec. 27 through Jan. 3.
A "Band-o-rama" fundraiser is set for Oct. 16 in the school's Performing Arts Center to offset some of the travel costs of chaperones. The band's trip, costing $2,500 per person, will be funded mostly by parents and through money raised by students.
"The kids have had an opportunity from middle school on to raise money for themselves," said parent chaperone Wheeler Chapman, who has two kids in the band.
Lake Zurich's marching band is promised a spot toward the front of the parade, which will be telecast live on BBC and may be picked up by local American channels.