Despite it being nearly 15 months away, two Broward-County high school marching bands are already preparing to spend New Year’s Day in 2021 performing at one of London’s biggest events.
Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School’s Eagle Regiment and Stranahan High School’s Mighty Marching Dragons received their invites to the 2021 London New Year’s Day Parade about four weeks ago. Both marching bands are preparing presentations that they say will take a Florida flavor to the United Kingdom.
According to school officials and students, the marching bands are rehearsing three times a week and three hours each day.
The Eagle Regiment is preparing a presentation using water and fire themes, using music, costumes and dances. The Mighty Marching Dragons, on the other hand, will have a performance showcasing the students’ different cultures and backgrounds.
Each year, parade officials invite a handful of marching bands throughout the world to walk the West End of London streets on Jan. 1 and perform for over 500,000 people in the streets and millions more on television.
Directors and students are planning different fundraising events, as the trip will cost approximately $3,000 per student, and both bands have over a hundred members.