Schools

Band of Warriors to Perform in London in 2015

Cherokee High School's marching band will perform in London's New Year's Day Parade in 2015.

The Cherokee High School Marching Band of Warriors will be racking up some frequent flyer miles when they ring in the 2015 new year in jolly old England.

Late last month, representatives from the City of London formally extended an invitation to the Band of Warriors to take part in the city's New Years Day Parade on Jan. 1, 2015. The parade is the largest of its kind in the world.

The English retinue included the former Lord Mayor of Westminster Catherine Longworth, Executive Director of London's New Year's Day Parade (LNYDP) Robert Bone, LYNDP Director Geraldine Bone, and LNYDP's Director of International Participation Johnathan Whaley.

The Londoners arrived at Cherokee High School at around 8:30 a.m. on Sept. 26 and got a tour of the band's facilities from Principal Debra Murdock and Band Director Garrick Cheyne. The group then went to the stadium to see the Band of Warriors do their thing.

Robert Bone said that American high school marching bands are a hit with the 640,000 people who come to see the parade in London, mainly because the island nation does not have American football and has no need for American football halftime shows.

Lord Mayor Longworth presented Murdock with the coat of arms of the City of Westminster, and Cheyne received cuff links from the visitors. The senior drum majors received commemorative pins.

Cherokee High School students will begin fundraising to pay for the cost of the band's trip across the pond.


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