Downers Grove Students To Perform In London New Year's Day Parade

DOWNERS GROVE, IL — Students from Downers Grove North High School were invited Wednesday to perform at the 2023 New Year's Day Parade and Choral Festival in London.

Students from DGN's choirs and band performed Wednesday for delegates of the festival's organizing committee who were visiting the high school. After the performance, delegates presented a formal invitation to Superintendent Dr. Hank Thiele, Principal Dr. Courtney DeMent, Fine Arts Chairperson Brayer Teague and Mayor Robert Barnett.

“On behalf of the Fine Arts Department, we are honored to be invited to perform in London. The New Year’s Day Parade is one of the greatest parades in the world, and our marching band is thrilled to have the opportunity to return,” Teague said in a news release.

He added, “The London International Choral Festival will be an outstanding performance opportunity for our singers, and we are excited to plan a cross-disciplinary tour that involves so many student musicians. It was a pleasure meeting the committee and introducing them to our district and school administrators and our talented students and faculty."

Downers Grove North students previously performed in the London New Year's Day Parade in 2015 and 2019.

Bob Bone, executive director for London's New Year's Day Parade, said, "We look forward to seeing the North High School students and staff to ring in the new year in 2023."

London's 2023 New Year's Day Parade will be broadcast to millions of homes internationally and will stream on the PBS Network in the United States. The Festival Concert Series will feature students performing at famous music venues throughout London.

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