Greendale High School Marching Band invited to perform in 2028 London Parade
GREENDALE, Wis. (CBS 58) — The Greendale High School Marching Band is heading to England.
In 15 months, they will perform in the 2028 London Parade on New Year's Day.
The opportunity is the latest example of the band's talent and dedication paying off.
"It's quite an accolade to be selected to participate," said Bob Bone, the parade's founder and chairman.
Band director Tom Reifenberg first told the students about the trip during a normal rehearsal.
"All of a sudden it was like, 'We're going to London,' and they all looked at each other like, what's happening? What? Really?" he said.
On Friday, parade organizers came all the way out to Greendale to personally present the invitation.
"It's quite an accolade to be selected to participate," Bone said.
The band is no stranger to big events. In the past, they have performed in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Rose Parade — but this will be their first international experience.
"It's so exciting that we're going overseas and going into a different country and learning about the culture," said Chloe Gibson, an 11th-grade flutist.
The London Parade is massive.
"We have 8,500 performers, 26 different countries in the world represented, 72 acts, performing through the center of London to a crowd of well over half a million," Bone said.
Greendale is one of only 16 North American bands performing in 2028, picked by a team of consultants who secretly attend competitions.
"We like representing Greendale, but not just Greendale — Milwaukee County, the state of Wisconsin, the Midwest," Reifenberg said.
The students are ecstatic and preparing for the experience of a lifetime.
"I just look forward to seeing the faces of the kids as they finish the parade," Bone said. "And you know what nearly all of them say? 'Can we go and do it again, please!'"