BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — The Western Kentucky Big Red Marching Band announced they will open for the 2025 London New Year’s Day Parade.
According to Gary Schallert, the director of bands at WKU, organizers of the parade, including the executive director, came to Bowling Green to witness a sample song by the band.
“We had the band get up and play for them and, on the very first note, they were blown away,” Schallert said.
After that, the organizers of the parade knew exactly who was going to open on New Year’s of 2025.
“It’s an honor for us,” Schallert said. “The London New Year’s Day Parade is equivalent to America’s Rose Bowl Parade or Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.”
According to Schallert, an estimated 600,000 people in London come out to watch the parade each year, and is broadcasted to about 500 million viewers.
But what truly sets this invitation apart is that they are taking part in the London News Year’s Day Parade in a very important year.
“It was like, ‘Wow, what a great opportunity for this,’” Schallert said. “Because, 2025 marks the 100th anniversary of the band program at WKU. So, to step off in London in London on Jan. 1, 2025, is going to be really cool,” Schallert said.
Matthew McCurry, the associate director of Bands at WKU, says that London is not only a way to get the band some national exposure, but it’s also an opportunity for band members to see the world.
“The question was asked to them on invitation day: ‘How many of you haven’t traveled outside the country?,’” McCurry said. “And a good two-thirds of them raised their hand. Some of them, the first time on an airplane.”
The band members put a lot of hours into perfecting their music, so when they heard the news about this opportunity, the emotions were overwhelming.
“I called my mom, crying, ‘Hey, we’re going to London,’” WKU junior and band member Wyatt Parker said. “It’s going to be the best thing we’ve ever done.”
Another student and band member, Patrick Johnson, said he was shocked when he first heard the news.
“At first, I was kinda just speechless,” Johnson said. “I was like, ‘Is this real?’ Sometimes that stuff just doesn’t feel real, and it didn’t in that moment.”
“That’s a dream of mine, to play across seas, and express not just my talents, but the talents this school has to offer on a global scale,” Johnson added.
The Big Red Marching Band will continue to practice and fundraise to pay for the international trip.