River Ridge Band, Chorus Students Invited To Perform In London

WOODSTOCK, GA -- Music students at River Ridge High School will have the chance to travel back across the pond to ring in 2019.

That's because the school scored its second invitation on Tuesday, March 21 to participate in the London New Year's Day Parade, and the chorus was invited to the London International Choral Festival.

Lord Mayor of Westminster Steve Summers and London New Year's Day Parade Executive Director Bob Bone made the trip from England to Woodstock to issue a formal invitation to the school -- which was happily accepted by Principal Darrell Herring, Band Director Daniel Gray, Choral Director Allison Baccalo and hundreds of cheering music students.

The River Ridge High School Marching Band participated in the parade in 2016, which was viewed by 650,000 spectators along the route as well as 350 million viewers via television.

This is the first invitation for the chorus.

Photo 1: The River Ridge HS Elite Women's Chorus entertains the guests from London who are there to issue an invitation to participate in the London New Year's Day Parade and International Choral Festival.

Photo 2: A string quartet

Photo 3: Lord Mayor Steve Summers presents Principal Darrell Herring with a commemorative plate.

Photo 4: Lord Mayor Steve Summers talks to the students about participating in the parade. "I promise, you will be cheered every step of the way, and every second you will be marching past a piece of world history."

Photo 5: Marching Band Drum Majors were also presented gifts from the Lord Mayor.

Images via Cherokee County School District