A chance encounter turned into the opportunity of a lifetime for members of the Stone Bridge High School marching band, The Marching Bulldogs. At one of the school’s football games in 2006, the representative who selects bands to participate in the London New Year’s Day parade was in the stands. “He saw us perform and asked [Principal James] Person if we’d be interested in going to London to take part in the parade,” David Keller, Stone Bridge’s band director, said.

The band was invited to play in London during the 2008 parade, but Keller asked to forgo the invitation for one year, in order to give students enough time to raise money for the event. “It’s really an honor,” Keller said. So, at the end of 2008, more than 70 members of Stone Bridge’s marching band, symphonic band, wind ensemble and jazz band will head to England to mark the new year with a landmark performance.

“It’s a really nice honor for the program to be recognized internationally this early,” Dan Richardson, one of the band two drum majors, said. “We’re such a young program, only seven years old and this is really nice.” SINCE THE parade is more than one year away seniors, such as Richardson and fellow drum major Madeleine Scaggs, will not be able to participate in the parade. That, however, is not keeping them from doing everything they can to help the band prepare.

“I’m sad that I can’t go, but I’m really proud of the program,” Scaggs said. “I’m extremely happy for the program,” Senior George Bacon, the band’s president, said. “But I have a sister who is a freshman she she’ll be able to go.” Scaggs also added that the seniors from the class of 2007 had a great deal to do with The Marching Bulldogs selection, as they were the ones who led the band when it was chosen.