Hoffman Estates drum corps invited to play London New Year's Day parade

The Hoffman Estates-based Royal Airs Drum and Bugle Corps will represent the village as musical ambassadors in London's 2017 New Year's Day Parade.

The group's official invitation will be hand delivered March 21 by Lord Mayor Duncan Sans of Westminster, great grandson of the late British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, during a reception at Hoffman Estates village hall.

The Royal Airs are the only surviving drum and bugle corps in Illinois that accepts people of all ages, said Jennifer Djordjevic, director of operations and outreach for the Hoffman Estates mayor's office.

The group's oldest member is 80 and the youngest is 12.

Though the Royal Airs' performances are steeped in rich drum corps traditions, its members prefer to be recognized for their community service, recent accomplishments and ambitious goals for the future, Djordjevic said.

For more information about the organization, visit theroyalairs.org.